Madikeri: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman engaged in a verbal spat with District In-charge Minister for Kodagu Sa Ra Mahesh over the issue of her itinerary, in full view of the public at a press conference here on Friday, August 24.
Reportedly, the squabble started when Mahesh asked Sitharaman to end the press conference for want of time. A visibly upset Sitharaman retaliated to the request by blankly saying that she was following “minute-by-minute” procedure of the itinerary prepared by the district administration.
A video grab of the incident has gone viral on the social media. It shows Sitaraman fuming at Mahesh saying, “I am a central minister and I am following your instructions. Unbelievable!” She then asks Kodagu DC Sri Vidhya whether the itinerary was in order. She even instructs the DC to settle the matter with Sa Ra Mahesh and not to embarrass her anymore.
When a press person intervened to ask the defence minister to speak more loudly, Sitharaman said “Anyway, the mics are on. Everything can be recorded. You may record it as much as you want.”
