New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday skipped the Modi cabinet expansion ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan but made sure her move got no negative coverage in the press.


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Swaraj actually had a prior diplomatic engagement - she was due to meet her Hungarian counterpart around the same time the 19 new ministers were to be sworn-in.


Anticipating negative coverage of her absence, the minister explained well in advance the reason behind her skipping the ceremony.


"Media - Pl avoid the headline: 'Sushma skips Oath Ceremony'," Swaraj tweeted two hours before the oath ceremony.


 


"I am unable to attend the swearing in ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan since I have a meeting with Foreign Minister of Hungary,” she tweeted further.


"I congratulate and welcome all my colleagues joining the Council of Ministers," the minister added.