Sitharaman to visit forward airbase Uttarlai in Rajasthan on Sunday

Newly appointed defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will start her field work on Sunday with a visit to India’s first underground airbase in Barmer district that borders Pakistan.

Chief of air staff air chief marshal BS Dhanoa will accompany her during the visit to Uttarlai airbase -- one of the country’s most important forward airbases, a defence ministry official said on Saturday.

Sitharaman’s visit to the airbase will be the first by a defence minister since one undertaken by George Fernandez, who had held the portfolio in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

According to the schedule, the raksha mantri will reach at Barmer at 5.00 pm. Upon her arrival at the airbase, she will first address air warriors and then interact with station personnel.

Sitharaman, who earlier held commerce and industries portfolio, on Thursday assumed charge as the country’s first full-time woman defence minister.