Smriti Irani seems to be controversy's favorite child. The BJP leader who was on 5 July moved from the Human Resource Development ministry to the Textiles ministry as part of the cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seems to be at loggerheads with a senior bureaucrat in her new Ministry. The situation involving her and her most senior bureaucrat Rashmi Verma is so huge that with even the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stepping in to resolve the differences. According to sources, she has issued more than two dozen notes overthe last two days, seeking Textiles Secretary Verma’s response on a range of issues from the procedural and the administrative to those related to policy.

Sources said Irani was, for instance, upset with a file not being sent directly to her but being routed via Verma. According to another report, Irani has differences with Verma over aspects of the Rs 6,000-crore apparel and textile package cleared bythe Cabinet on 22 June. They also disagreed on the preparations for a textile summit which was scheduled to be held in October. When contacted, Verma denied any conflict with the minister. Asked about the notes issued by the Minister, she said, “I do not want to comment on this. It is usual communication. She has sought briefing on certain programmes.”