Kiren Rijiju (born 19 November 1971) is an Indian politician serving as 28th Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and 7th Minister of Minority Affairs since 2024. He was the Cabinet Minister of Earth Sciences and Food Processing Industries in the Government of India since 2023 till June 2024 and a member of the parliament in Lok Sabha from Arunachal West since 2014 and from 2004 to 2009. Earlier, he served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs from 2014 to 2019, Minister of State for Minority Affairs from 2019 to 2021, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2019 to 2021 and the Law minister from 2021 to 2023.[3][4]
Kiren Rijiju | |
|---|---|
Rijiju in 2023 | |
| Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | |
| Union Minister of Food Processing Industries | |
| In office 20 March 2024 – 10 June 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Pashupati Kumar Paras |
| Succeeded by | Chirag Paswan |
| Union Minister of Earth Sciences | |
| In office 18 May 2023 – 10 June 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Jitendra Singh |
| 34th Union Minister of Law and Justice | |
| In office 7 July 2021 – 18 May 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Ravi Shankar Prasad |
| Succeeded by | Arjun Ram Meghwal |
| Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Preceded by | Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore |
| Succeeded by | Anurag Thakur (as Cabinet Minister) |
| Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs | |
| In office 30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister | Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi |
| Preceded by | Virendra Kumar |
| Succeeded by | John Barla |
| Union Minister of State for Home Affairs | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 30 May 2019 served along with H. P. Chaudhary (2014-16) and H. G. Ahir (2016-19) | |
| Prime Minister | Narendra Modi |
| Minister | Rajnath Singh |
| Preceded by | R. P. N. Singh |
| Succeeded by | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 16 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Takam Sanjoy |
| Constituency | West Arunachal Pradesh |
| In office 22 May 2004 – 17 May 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Jarbom Gamlin |
| Succeeded by | Takam Sanjoy |
| Constituency | West Arunachal Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 November 1971[1] Nafra, Arunachal Pradesh, India |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse |
Joram Rina Rijiju (m. 2004) |
| Residence(s) | 9, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India – 110011 |
| Education | B.A., LL.B[2] |
| Alma mater | Delhi University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | sites |
Early life
editRijiju was born on 19 November 1971 to a Buddhist family in the Nakhu village near the Nafra town in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. His father's name is Rinchin Kharu and his mother's name is Chirai Rijiju. His father was the first pro-tempore speaker of the first Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.[5]
Education
editRijiju did his graduation degree (B.A.) from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Further, in 1998, he did his graduate degree in law (LL.B) from Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.[6][7]
Political career
editKiren Rijiju is a three time MP in Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh (2004, 2014, and 2024). He has served as minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) youth affairs and sports, MoS minority affairs, MoS home affairs, and Minister of Law and Justice. His tenure as Law Minister was marked by controversies. On 18 May 2023, he was assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences.[8] On 10 June 2024, he was appointed as the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.[9]
Controversies
editIn 2022, Kiren called the collegium system of appointment of judges in Indian judicial system as "opaque", implying that appointments are done on personal associations rather than merit. He also advocated for government's role in the appointment of judges, writing to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. His comments on judiciary and collegium system were widely criticised by the legal community and the Supreme Court.[8][10]
In March 2023, Kiren accused some retired judges to be a part of "Anti-India gang".[11] A group of former civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group responded by claiming Rijiju's comments a sign of "authoritarianism".[12]
Personal life
editHe married Joram Rina Rijiju in 2004.[13] She is a graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi and is a gold medalist from Arunachal University. She is an Associate Professor teaching history at Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kiren Rijiju, a youth leader from Arunachal Pradesh". Ibn Live. Press Trust of India. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ "KIREN RIJIJU BIOGRAPHY AND 2014 ELECTION RESULT". Compare Infobase Limited. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ Saigal, Sonam (18 May 2023). "As Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju took potshots at Indian judiciary". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ The Economic Times (6 June 2024). "Bullish Wins & Bearish Losses: Here are the key contests and results of 2024 Lok Sabha polls". Archived from the original on 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ C. B. Namchoom. "The saffron man, now playing the Jai Ho tune". eastern panorama. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ "Amid appointments impasse, virtual courts, new Law Minister Kiren Rijiju signs in". Indian Express. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "Campus Law Centre DU". DU. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ a b Desk, Express Web (18 May 2023). "Kiren Rijiju no longer law minister: A look at his political career, controversies". Indian Express. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Buddhist MPS in 18th Lok Sabha (2024-2029)". 2 July 2024.
- ^ Staff, The Wire (28 November 2022). "Supreme Court Objects to Kiren Rijiju's Remarks on Collegium System". The Wire. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Staff, The Wire (18 March 2023). "Some Retired Judges Are Part of 'Anti-India Gang', Says Law Minister Kiren Rijiju". The Wire. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ Staff, The Wire (30 March 2023). "Rijiju's 'Anti-India' Comments a Sign of 'Authoritarianism', Say Former Civil Servants". The Wire. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Fourteenth Lok Sabha: Members Bioprofile". Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.