Politics is a privilege not a money-making racket: Smriti Irani

Former Union minister Smriti Irani said on Friday that she never viewed politics as a means of financial gain and described holding political office as a privilege. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi, she cited the National Education Policy and the SWAYAM platform among initiatives she worked on as education minister.

Irani recalled returning to professional work after an 18-year break from television to see if she could still succeed. She said her decision to enter politics was driven by a desire to contribute, not earn. On balancing motherhood with work, she noted she campaigned when her child was only two months old, sleeping on flights between feeding the baby and fulfilling political obligations.

The former minister dismissed body-shaming as a tactic used by those with nothing substantive to contribute. She said women in politics face attacks on character when opponents cannot challenge them on competence, and described a recent exchange involving Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit as an example of how a single brash man can sexualize and demean a woman's achievements.