New Delhi, June 28 (IBNS): Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday took charge of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

"Shri Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh, Union Minister of Science & Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences assumed the additional charge of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises here today," read a government statement.

Deshmukh was welcomed by the MSME Secretary R. K. Mathur, AS & DC Amarendra Sinha, CMD, NSIC, H. P. Kumar, Joint Secretary(SME) C K Mishra, Joint Secretary(ARI) Dinesh Singh and other senior officers.

Deshmukh took over the Ministry of MSME after Virbhadra Singh resigned from the union cabinet on Tuesday following framing of corruption charges against him. 

Virbhadra Singh, who was the Union Minister for Small, Micro and Medium Industries, resigned from the union cabinet on Tuesday following framing of corruption charges against him and his wife Pratibha Singh in an old case, but said his resignation was to ensure that the Prime Minister and Congress party are not embarrassed.