New Delhi : Jagat Prakash Nadda Monday took over as the union health minister replacing veteran Delhi politician Harsh Vardhan.
Nadda’s appointment as health minister comes amid a controversy over AIIMS whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi demanding a CBI probe into his removal as the institute’s chief vigilance officer. It was reported that Nadda had written to the then health minister, Harsh Vardhan, for Chaturvedi’s removal as CVO.
Chaturvedi is now posted as deputy secretary at AIIMS, the country’s premier institution which will be under Nadda’s ministerial control.
However, when quizzed by the media on the issue Nadda refused to comment, saying “I have nothing to say”.
Harsh Vardhan’s replacement by Nadda as the union health minister surprised many.
The Congress party also questioned Harsh Vardhan’s removal.
However, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley rebutted the Congress’s charge saying there was nothing wrong in the appointment of Nadda as even if he had raised any issue it was his right as a Member of Parliament.
The 53-year-old Nadda is known to be a master strategist and was a strong contender for the post of the BJP president.
A prominent student activist in his college days, Nadda is known to be a tough task master.
Meanwhile, Harsh Vardhan, a Delhi BJP strongman and a medical doctor by profession, took charge as the new science and technology and earth sciences minister.