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Stating that "destiny" had made him the law minister, former Bharatiya Janata Party president Jana Krishnamurthy said on Wednesday that he was not reluctant to quit the party post.
"I was never reluctant to quit the post of party president but never wanted to accept any new responsibility," the 72-year-old said on his first day as the head of law ministry.
Minister of State for Law Ravi Shanker Prasad, who was practising in the Patna high court as senior advocate, also assumed office along with Krishnamurthy.
"Destiny plays its role," Krishnamurthy said. "If I am able to do something to uphold the majesty of law in social life, I will think have succeeded in the task entrusted to me."
Stating that Prasad's father Thakur Prasad was a "very dear friend", he observed that "our combination may provide the desired results".
On the shifting of the Department of Company Affairs from his ministry to the Ministry of Finance, Krishnamurthy said this was a purely administrative arrangement and nothing should be read into it. "Company law is with me," he quipped.
Commenting on the July 8 all-party meeting convened to discuss the Supreme Court directive making it mandatory for candidates to furnish details of their criminal past, if any, he said, "We will talk to the political parties and on the basis of their views government would take a decision."
Both Krishnamurthy and Prasad said their predecessor Arun Jaitley had done a lot in the field of judicial reforms. "We have to keep the legacy going," they said.
The two were greeted by the staff in the morning and they asked for the details of the Supreme Court judgment as well as the agenda set for the July 8 meeting.
PTI
The Complete Coverage: Cabinet Reshuffle 2002
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