'People will say things, because they have to say something' -- This was Smriti Irani's retort to critics quoting from a popular Hindi song of 1970s.
Irani today assumed charge as the Textiles Minister after being shunted out from HRD Ministry, where her two-year tenure was marked with controversies.
While many critics felt the shift was due to the controversies that surrounded her tenure, a few also felt it could be aimed at giving her more time to focus on the next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
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Irani had a successful stint as a TV actress before taking plunge into politics and fought unsuccessfully against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In a move that had surprised many in the political circles at that time, Irani was assigned the HRD portfolio after the BJP-led NDA came to power in May 2014.