Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani came under the media’s glare after visiting an astrologer in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district.
A photo of Ms. Irani having her palm examined by astrologer Nathulal Vyas appeared in a Hindi daily on Monday. The Minister and her husband Zubin Irani reportedly spent four hours with Mr. Vyas. The astrologer told reporters that he had earlier predicted she would become a Minister and has now predicted that she would become the President.
When questioned by reporters outside Parliament, Ms. Irani criticised news channels for intruding into her personal life. She said, “If this increases your Television Rating Points then you can continue to report about my faith and religion. I hope this brings Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) to your channels.”
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Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla also criticised the press. “There is a science in astrology and astronomy and even I believe in it. It is one’s personal life,” she said.
Former Union Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar said that although is a person’s personal belief, the message Ms. Irani conveyed was in bad taste. “As HRD Minister it is her responsibility to promote scientific temper,” he said.
Ms. Irani told a news agency that the media is targeting her to take away attention from her ministry’s progressive steps. She has recently drawn flak over a letter being forwarded to IITs urging them to turn vegetarian and, for the discontinuation of German as a third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. Today, she announced that additional scholarships would be offered for disabled students and a special training module for teachers of special children would be introduced.
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