In a surprise to many, Indian Defence Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Nirmala Sitharaman was seen walking on the streets of Bengaluru with a few people, and with minimal security on December 30.
She was in Bengaluru on December 30, where she spoke to various stakeholders in her office regarding an MPLADS programme in her constituency. Nirmala was meeting about 10 people to also understand their perceptions on various issues, and to develop an understanding of how various government schemes have been perceived by the common man.
It was a memorable Saturday, listening to great insightful thoughts of @nsitharaman.
— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) December 30, 2017
Also having lunch with this amazingly simple VVIP.
From Vietnam to US to Pacific ocean, her clarity of thoughts is impressive. Indian defence is in good hands. pic.twitter.com/QfAF6REC0I
Had a great meeting with RM @nsitharaman ji in #Bengaluru earlier today. Thereafter a long walk for a real Aam Aadmi lunch. pic.twitter.com/8SYPVXqFXV
— Suresh N (@surnell) December 30, 2017
Suresh N, the CEO of a tech start-up and one of the attendees told TNM that it was not planned at all. “Even her having lunch with us was not planned. Around lunchtime, she just asked us what we were planning to do. We told her that we had booked some place close by and it’s just walking distance. We decided to walk there, and she said that she would come with us as well as she was hungry. Suddenly, she just decided to walk. Honestly, we were scared, because she is a high value target. We were not so happy about that, but she just started walking with us,” he said.
“It’s not so often that we get to have lunch with a Union Cabinet Minister. So as a common man, it’s a big thing for us,” he added.
Some of those who attended the session termed it as a ‘real Aam Aadmi lunch.’
Images show Nirmala, dressed in a black and white saree, walking the streets of Bengaluru like a regular pedestrian, and having lunch at an Udupi restaurant.
However, according to Kiran Kumar S, another attendee, the people at the restaurant had been informed by the Defence Minister’s security detail, but people on the road and the police had no clue.
Wow. DM just walking on the footpath without any security and hats off to @nsitharaman ji for her simplicity. Kiran ji luck you.
— Vidyasagar Jagadeesan (@jvidyasagar) December 30, 2017
Wow.. You are so lucky. What was the occasion sir ? . Truly @nsitharaman is one of the most deserving defence minister of India
— Kishor Bhat (@KishorPolya) December 30, 2017
Wow .... Defence minister being so down to earth
— Rahul Urs (@arsa_rahul) December 30, 2017
These are leaders @BJP4India shd project. @nsitharaman can do wonders in Tamilnadu and Karnataka for BJP.
— Pramod P K (@PkPraamod) December 30, 2017
While many praised her for her simplicity, some Twitter users asked her not to expose herself to danger.
Sorry but downright SILLY & DANGEROUS. Leaving aside this being a telegram to India's foes, been informed by many defence-beat journo friends that her no-nonsense approach and crackdown on defence deals/middlemen has earned her dangerous enemies.
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) December 31, 2017
This shouldn't be repeated. pic.twitter.com/3lXaOZ4j4d
Madam @nsitharaman @DefenceMinIndia, please do not expose yourself to danger. This may sound like a cliché, but i mean it sincerely: the nation needs you. https://t.co/aNiW7vDId5
— राजीवः श्रीनिवासः (@RajeevSrinivasa) December 31, 2017