Newly-appointed Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on Monday dismissed claims that he was unhappy with his new charge and said that he ‘never haggled for portfolios’.
"The prime minister took me into confidence about the change in my portfolio and that was enough for me. I have never in my life haggled or bargained for portfolios," Reddy told reporters.
"It has been my effort to be a faithful partyman under a truthful (prime) minister and that shall be my focus and that has been my focus," he added.
In the cabinet reshuffle Sunday, Jaipal Reddy was transferred from the crucial petroleum ministry to the ministry of science and technology. M. Veerappa Moily is the new Petroleum Minister.
Asked whether he was given a reason for his removal from the petroleum ministry, Jaipal Reddy said: "No minister is ever told about the reason and I think the PM should not give the reason for change in a portfolio."
He added that he had an 'excellent' relationship with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and that he had always been shown affection by him.
"I don't take positions on portfolios and all my life I have taken ideological positions on issues... I've no regrets about portfolios," said Jaipal Reddy.
Asked why he did not personally hand over the charge to Moily, he said he was busy learning about his new ministry.
"I told the secretary that I will come at five (p.m.) as I wanted to understand about this department. I am a student of social science, not of natural science so I needed time. I am not an officer to hand over charge," said Jaipal Reddy.
“When I took over as petroleum minister, I did not let Murli Deora give charge to me. Moily came to see me...you are free to indulge in your imagination,” he added.
The minister said that the science ministry was very important because it works in the areas of fundamental research.