Skill development is going to change India, says Rudy

Lucknow: Rajeev Pratap Rudy, the MP from Saran in Bihar, hinted that his inclusion in the cabinet was due to impending Bihar elections slated next year. Talking to reporters here on Monday before his ministerial colleague was waiting to file his Rajya Sabha papers, Rudy said: “Obviously, Bihar mein chunav bhi ladna hai (Obviously, we have to fight and election in Bihar).”
Talking about his portfolio – skill development – he said that he had taken it as a challenge as it was a new ministry.But since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself talked about it, his focus would be on it,” he said, adding “the new ministry is going to change India as it covers 14 departments.”
A pilot by profession, Rudy now defines himself as a 100% politician with 25 years of experience. After suffering two consecutive losses, this time he defeated RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi in Saran. He has the experience of working in the commerce ministry 14 years ago and civil aviation ministry 11 years ago. “There must be something in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mind if he has chosen me for skill development ministry,” Rudy said.
Coming back to party politics, he said that after Jammu and Kashmir and Jhakhand, the BJP's focus will be on Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in a big way. “From India Gate to Gateway of India, the party would now move east in time to come,” Rudy said.
On Bihar, Rudy said: “With BJP in power, the politics has become bi-polar.” While BJP is on one side, all other political parties are on the other side, he said, citing example how sworn enemies Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav have joined hands against the BJP. For how long this relationship will stand can be anyone's guess, Rudy said, adding “it’s something akin to BSP and SP joining hands in UP. The need arose only because Nitish Kumar went too far in attacking Modi in his effort to woo one particular community, Rudy said.
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Rudy the pilot grounded
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Lucknow: Life has changed for Rajeev Pratap Rudy, a day after he was inducted in Modi cabinet as MoS for skill development (Independent charge) and parliamentary affairs. “I doubt that I will be able to fly a plane now,” he said, added that Sunday itself he hung his uniform.
“I was probably the only Parliamentarian in the world to have been flying A-320 Airbus, but from now on will miss all that,” Rudy said and added that his departure from Lucknow to New Delhi on Monday was the first time in the past four years that he would be travelling as a passenger rather than a pilot. Earlier, it was always a routine for him to fly a plane and even take leaders to wherever the party had directed him to.