Enjoyed my stint in Defence Ministry, says Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said he enjoyed his stint in the Defence Ministry, but added that it was not possible to continue handling both Defence and Finance portfolios.

Jaitley also lauded his successor Nirmala Sitharaman, who becomes the first full-fledged woman to be Defence Minister.

"I enjoyed every minute as Defence Minister, I loved the job and had two opportunities to serve. I think systems in that ministry are excellent and I have a satisfaction that in a brief period, we did a lot, from Strategic Partnership, to implementing Pay Commission recommendations, resolving the anomalies in the Pay Commission recommendations....,"Jaitley said.

"My last decisions with regard to streamlining ordnance factories having 57,000 personnel to be redeployed from non-essential areas are important directional changes. It is a great job, but Finance Ministry is an important job and it is not possible indefinitely to take charge of these two ministries... The Prime Minister was aware of these constraints," he added.

He also said that he is happy that his successor as Defence Minister is very competent.

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"I am happy with the fact that I now have a very competent successor who has worked her way up and proved herself. She has actually earned that place for herself," he said referring to Sitharaman, who has in past worked with him as Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Lauding her appointment to the crucial post, he said, "It is great for the country, not just for the women. it also sends a message globally."

Jaitley noted that the Cabinet Committee on Security would now have two women with Sitharaman joining External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

"Both ladies in CCS have established their competence, both are recognised as ladies with substance, who have earned a front-line position for themselves," he said.

Asked if women in combat maybe a reality with a woman as Defence Minister, Jaitley quipped, "That was one area in which I wasn't able to do much".

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with IANS inputs...