Uma Bharti commits Twitter faux pas, reveals portfolio in breach of protocol

Cabinet Minister Uma Bharti on Monday committed a faux pas when she announced her portfolio on Twitter even though the official word on the appointments to the various ministries was still awaited.

Soon after she was administered the oath of office, Bharti tweeted that she has got the portfolio of Water Resources and Ganga cleaning.

But after it was perhaps realised that it amounted to a breach of official protocol, another message was posted on her account, saying that the earlier tweet was posted by "mistake". The original tweet was at the same time deleted.

The second tweet was posted by one Rajesh Katiyar, apparently a member of her staff.

"The tweet about portfolio was posted by mistake. I apologise for it," he wrote on Bharti's twitter account.

The fiery 'sanayasin' has been agitating for long for quick and effective measures to save the Ganga from pollution and illegal quarrying.

She has also been advocating that the issue be kept above partisan politics.

In an uncommon gesture, Bharti had even approached Congress President Sonia Gandhi in 2011 -- when the UPA was at the helm -- and sought her help on the issue. On the political turf, Bharti has been one of the staunchest critics of the Gandhi family.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to contest from Varanasi, the holy town on the banks of the Ganga, cleaning of the river became one of the promises made by him which struck a chord with many.

More so because of the work done by the Gujarat government under Modi on the Sabarmati river front was highlighted by BJP.