Modi Cabinet 2.0: Rajnath Singh takes charge as Union Defence Minister, meets service chiefs

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday took charge of his ministry two days after he was sworn in at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Defence, Shripad Yesso Naik, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh were also present at the office located in South Block.

Taking to Twitter, Rajnath Singh stated that the MoD officials gave a presentation to him on the functioning of the Ministry. 

He was welcomed at the South Block by Service Chiefs, Secretaries. 

READ | Modi Cabinet 2.0: Rajnath Singh Is The New Defence Minister, Full Portfolio Allocation Of The Second Narendra Modi-led NDA Government Out

Earlier in the day, Singh paid tribute to martyred jawans at the National War Memorial in Delhi.

"Paid tributes to the martyred soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty, at the National War Memorial today. These fallen heroes represent the character of India who has a long history of courage, sacrifice and patriotism. I salute them for keeping India safe," he tweeted after the visit.

Rajnath Singh previously handled the Home ministry in the first term of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. BJP president Amit Shah, who has succeeded him, also took over as Home Minister on Saturday. On Thursday, the BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow Parliamentary constituency took oath as the Union Minister in the PM Modi Cabinet 2.0. at the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

On May 23, Rajnath Singh won the Lucknow seat with a margin of 3,47,302 votes, against SP's Poonam Sinha and Congress' Acharya Pramod Krishnam. 

READ | Rajnath Singh Pays Tribute To Jawans At National War Memorial Ahead Of Taking Charge As Defence Minister