Dr RK Ranjan grateful to people, takes charge
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal/New Delhi, July 08 2021:
Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan, who has been inducted as Minister of state for external affairs and education, said that love and support from the public made it possible for him to become a minister and serve the country under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a video message to the public after his swearing in ceremony and subsequent taking over of charge on Wednesday night, Ranjan said that he would not get the opportunity to serve the country had the people of Manipur not supported him in the Lok Sabha elections.
He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for believing in him.
Some believed that he would be given charge for environment and nature but that did not happen.
He believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have taken into consideration his long career in the teaching profession and education administration in entrusting with the charge of education.
He also expressed belief that he will get suggestions from the public, especially those in the teaching profession in order to improve the education sector of the country and to make Manipur an integral part of Indian education system.
During his teaching career, he got involved in several international platforms in South East Asian, South Asian and South African countries in various issues including fisheries and agriculture.
He believes in the vision of PM Modi to make good relationships with India's neighbouring countries and his background as well as his belief might be the reason behind his responsibility of external affairs, he added.
The Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP, meanwhile, assumed charge as Minister of State for External Affairs and Education under the Modi government on Thursday.
Along with Dr RK Ranjan, Meenakashi Lekhi also assumed charge in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, a day after they were inducted into the union council of ministers as part of a massive reshuffle.
With the induction of RK Ranjan and Lekhi as MoS in the MEA, the number of deputies to External Affairs minister S Jaishankar has increased to three.
V Muraleedharan, an MP from Kerala, has already been serving as a deputy to Jaishankar.
Both RK Ranjan and Lekhi were welcomed at the headquarters of the MEA by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Moscow, took to Twitter to welcome the two ministers to the MEA.
"Delighted to welcome @M_Lekhi and @Ranjan-Rajkuma11 to #TeamMEA.
Confident that together, we will promote India's interest abroad effectively (sic)," the external affairs minister said.
Lekhi is an MP from Delhi.
"Welcome new Minister of State to Team MEA! Meenakashi Lekhi takes charge as Minister of State for External Affairs," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.
He also posted another tweet welcoming RK Ranjan to the ministry.
In her brief comments, Lekhi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda for giving her the responsibility.
India has been attempting to play a bigger role at the global stage and the appointment of the two junior ministers in the MEA appears to be in sync with it.
Meanwhile, on his first day at office, MoS RK Ran-jan attended an interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with directors of centrally funded technical institutions on Thursday via video conferencing.
More than 100 heads of institutions joined the Prime Minister for this interaction.