Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi takes oath as cabinet minister

NEW DELHI: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who was elevated to the cabinet rank today said he will try to fulfil the responsibility endowed on him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with honesty and strength.

Naqvi (60) is among the four junior ministers who were given a cabinet berth, in a major rejig of the Modi government.

"It is our responsibility to live up to the expectations of the prime minister," he told reporters here after taking the oath.

On being asked whether his elevation was an endorsement of his performance as a Union minister, the BJP leader said, "I am a worker of the party. From time to time whatever responsibility the party gives me, I try to fulfil it with honesty and strength".

Naqvi, the lone Muslim face in the Modi cabinet, said priority of the government was to empower the weaker sections of society and work towards the goal of achieving 'New India'.

Naqvi was Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs and MoS (Independent Charge) of Minority Affairs.