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Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani while speaking on her exit from the Indian politics said she will make her exit the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to hang his boots. Irani was speaking at the Words Count festival in Pune for a discussion titled ''Scripting Her Story, From Star to Star Campaigner''.
In the event, a person from the audience asked Irani when one would see her as a ‘pradhan sevak’ (Prime servant) a title often used by PM Modi to describe his role as the head of the Union government. Responding to it, Smriti Irani said, "Never. I entered politics to work under charismatic leaders. I was very lucky to work under the leadership of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and I am currently serving under Modi ji.”
"The day ''pradhan sevak'' Narendra Modi decides to hang his boots, I will also leave Indian politics," she said.
Union minister Smriti Irani: The day 'pradhan sevak' Narendra Modi decides that he will hang his boots, is the day I will leave Indian politics. (03.02.19) https://t.co/qYMSCUnEPS
— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019
"I decide for myself how much of my life I will give for my country, my society. In an independent country, if I cannot take a decision for myself, what is the use of that independence?" she said.
On whether she did not wish to serve under leaders other than PM Modi, the textile minister said, "Am I not currently working under leaders like Rajnath Singh ji, Nitin Gadkari ji? There are leaders with whom I have worked within the organisation for the last 18 years. I also had the opportunity to work under leaders like Vajpayee and LK Advani."
“I was very very lucky to work under a charismatic leader like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and am currently serving under Narendra Modi. That was my ardent desire and when the Pradhan Sevak Narendra Modi decides to hang his boots, that is the day I will leave Indian politics,” she said.
Speaking on being trolled by profound journalists on several occasions, the actor-turned-politician said. “I have been trolled by celebrated journalists, politicians and others. The basic intention to humiliate or sexually objectify you is that it can break your spirit. I was taught early to forgive but not to forget,” she said.
First published: 4 February 2019, 11:21 IST