Vilasrao Deshmukh takes charge of Science & Tech Ministry

NEW DELHI: Putting to rest speculation over his "unhappiness" at being shifted from the Rural Development Ministry, Vilasrao Deshmukh today took charge as the new Science and Technology Minister, saying "technology will drive the future".

Taking over a week after the Cabinet reshuffle, Deshmukh said, "There was no question of my being unhappy. I was not here and was earlier busy with the Mumbai Cricket Association elections. I came back yesterday and took the charge today."

When questioned if he felt demoted after his shifting from Rural Development to Science and Technology, Deshmukh said, "It is no demotion. The Prime Minister is the chairman of the department, where I am the vice chairman. How can you call this demotion?"
He said Science and Technology is the subject of the future.

The Minister said it was wrong to say that technology was not reaching the common man. "Many latest innovations were coming to the aid of the common man. Technology would drive the future".

On his priorities, he said he had yet to understand the subject before formulating further plans. "I would take a presentation of the Ministry in the next two days and then evolve further plans. Let me try to understand the subject and get acquainted with it first. It is too early now."

On nuclear energy, he said, "This topic is new for me and I have to understand a lot before I evolve my plans".