New Delhi, May 16 -- In a show of solidarity with India's armed forces, Union Minister Smriti Irani announced that she is donating her entire pension and benefits as a former Member of Parliament to the National Defence Fund of India.

Speaking to reporters here, Smriti Irani said, "As a citizen and strategic advisor of the All India Traders Federation, today the entire Federation has pledged that we will contribute from our side to the National Defence Fund of India. Since last year, I have not taken my pension or any facility as a former MP. This is the money from the treasury of India, which I am dedicating today to the National Defence Fund."

The BJP leader also lauded the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) association's decis...