Sitharaman spars with Karnataka minister

On a visit to the flood-affected areas in the district, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday sparred with Karnataka district-in-charge minister Sa Ra Mahesh after he asked her to end a press conference they were jointly addressing.

The episode took place after Mahesh asked Sitharaman to end the press conference citing lack of time and she retorted saying that she was following "minute-by-minute" the itinerary prepared by the district administration and she cannot be blamed for the delay.

"And the mic is on na... so record whatever you want," she is heard telling the media.

Sitharaman then asked a woman official to stop speaking and said "let the in-charge minister speak".

"Minute to minute programme, Minister... I am following that and if officials were important then my family is also very important. A central minister is following the minister in-charge. Unbelievable," she said.

You have the list of minute to minute to follow. If you had difference of opinion then you should have sorted this out before and not put me in an embarassing moment. I am doing as per your schedule," she is heard saying.

--IANS

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