The rumours turned out to be partly true. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, who started off as one of the bright young lights of the Modi government seemed to have lost steam of late, and was even dropped from the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive. Murmurs from within the party suggested she had fallen out of favour and could even be dropped from the Cabinet. While that hasn't yet happened, Irani has continued to court controversy and make headlines – but now she's doing so by fighting back.
In addition to once again taking on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over the last couple of weeks, Irani has also given a number of interviews that have allowed the minister to address some of the charges laid at her doorstep. Speaking to Arnab Goswami, Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose, Irani has used the limelight to remind people that the reasons she came to prominence in the first place – her sharp tongue and clear-headed arguing style – haven't gone anywhere.
Take this fun exchange from the Frankly Speaking interview with Goswami, where Irani explains that she is not the decision-maker when it comes to deciding who will be in the national executive.
The lighter moments come around a strong defence from Irani on asserting that her decision to file a First Information Report after spotting a CCTV camera at a retail showroom in Goa pointed at the women's changing rooms was not an attempt to divert attention from the BJP national security. Irani also got a chance to assert that she is not a "political Cinderella" needing anyone to protect her after Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav made some indelicate remarks about her in Parliament.
Last week, Irani also spoke to Rajdeep Sardesai from Headlines Today, in a video that has prompted her supporters to insist that Sardesai had been "slaughtered" by the minister. Below, another exchange, as Sardesai attempted to bring up suggestions that Irani had brought up the Fabindia CCTV case to divert attention from the BJP.
In fact it might have been Rahul Gandhi's newfound vigour that has given Irani a chance to return to the headlines as well. Irani contested against Gandhi from Amethi during the Lok Sabha elections last year, and with Gandhi now attempting to directly take on the government, the BJP has deployed the sharp Irani to take on the Congress VP.
Speaking to the Times of India's Sagarika Ghose, Irani pointed out the irony of Gandhi, who beat her in Amethi and has been a representative from the constituency for years now, blaming the party that lost there for lack of development.
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In addition to once again taking on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over the last couple of weeks, Irani has also given a number of interviews that have allowed the minister to address some of the charges laid at her doorstep. Speaking to Arnab Goswami, Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose, Irani has used the limelight to remind people that the reasons she came to prominence in the first place – her sharp tongue and clear-headed arguing style – haven't gone anywhere.
Take this fun exchange from the Frankly Speaking interview with Goswami, where Irani explains that she is not the decision-maker when it comes to deciding who will be in the national executive.
Goswami: Are some people cutting you down to size?
Irani: I don't think so, I'm too fat for that.
The lighter moments come around a strong defence from Irani on asserting that her decision to file a First Information Report after spotting a CCTV camera at a retail showroom in Goa pointed at the women's changing rooms was not an attempt to divert attention from the BJP national security. Irani also got a chance to assert that she is not a "political Cinderella" needing anyone to protect her after Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav made some indelicate remarks about her in Parliament.
Last week, Irani also spoke to Rajdeep Sardesai from Headlines Today, in a video that has prompted her supporters to insist that Sardesai had been "slaughtered" by the minister. Below, another exchange, as Sardesai attempted to bring up suggestions that Irani had brought up the Fabindia CCTV case to divert attention from the BJP.
Irani: I never in my life imagined that the charge of misogyny on Rajdeep Sardesai and the charge of hatred of Narendra Modi on Rajdeep Sardesai would be so evident in an interview like this (...) what does Rajdeep Sardesai think about it as a man and a journalist.
Sardesai: Rajdeep Sardesai thinks Smriti Irani has every reason to raise it.
Irani: That's it, end of story.
In fact it might have been Rahul Gandhi's newfound vigour that has given Irani a chance to return to the headlines as well. Irani contested against Gandhi from Amethi during the Lok Sabha elections last year, and with Gandhi now attempting to directly take on the government, the BJP has deployed the sharp Irani to take on the Congress VP.
Speaking to the Times of India's Sagarika Ghose, Irani pointed out the irony of Gandhi, who beat her in Amethi and has been a representative from the constituency for years now, blaming the party that lost there for lack of development.
Ghose: Aren't you politicizing the food park issue in Amethi?
Irani: It's fascinating that for the first time in Indian political history, a candidate who won is now telling a candidate who lost to do something for development in Amethi. What does that indicate? That while they were in power, they did nothing for their own constituency. When they were in power they shelved an entire project but in fact indulged in the fallacy of a grand inauguration so that they could give the people hope. If they had genuinely wanted to work for the constituency, don't you think Amethi would be a stellar place?