Woman Defence Minister may speed up case for women in combat: MoS

New Delhi Sep 3 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre on Sunday said he hoped Nirmala Sitharaman s appointment as the new Defence Minister will speed up the process of induction of women in combat roles in the armed forces.

"This is a big incident; she is the first full-time woman Defence Minister (of India) " Bhamre said after meeting Sitharaman at her residence here soon after she was named as the country s Defence Minister.

"She is known as one of the efficient ministers... the ministry is already examining the case of women in the armed forces. Now that a woman is the Defence Minister I think the process will be faster " he told news channel CNN News 18.

Former Defence Minister and now Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar also lauded Sitharaman.

"She is a very competent efficient and analytical minister. She is very clear-headed and these are the qualities required to be a Defence Minister " Parrikar said.

"There are so many challenges but I am sure she will overcome all " he added.

--IANS
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