Journalist-turned-politician M J Akbar today assumed charge as Minister of State for External Affairs.
He met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at her residence before taking the charge.
Akbar is the second Minister of State in the External Affairs Ministry after V K Singh.
"A welcome addition to MEA as @mjakbar takes charge as Minister of State (External Affairs)," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with a photograph of Akbar taking charge.
65-year-old Akbar, who was recently elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, is seen as an articulate and modern Muslim voice in BJP.
He was a party spokesperson and has often spoken on the government's foreign policies.
