The HRD Minister Smriti Irani has received support from a totally unexpected quarter: J&K CM Umar Abdullah, who defended the minister against the Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken’s observation that Smriti is not even a graduate and still heading a ministry that frames policy on education.

Umar asked, ‘Is it mandatory to appoint only pilots to head the aviation ministry?’.

“If that is not then why asking for only graduates to lead HRD ministry,” he ridiculed.