Kiren Rijiju inducted into Union Cabinet in Narendra Modi’s council of ministers
Our Correspondent
Itanagar: Kiren Rijiju who was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister in the Narendra Modi’s council of ministers on Thursday is considered as the ‘Face of the Northeast’. He portrayed himself as the ‘Man of the People’ (MP) with a slogan of ‘New Change’ in 2004 when he was elected for the first time to the Lok Sabha from the Arunachal West Parliamentary seat. During 2004-09, Kiren Rijiju was placed among the top five opposition MPs reviewed by their peers in the Treasury bench based on high benchmark in debates, discussions and decorum and was placed among stalwarts like LK Advani. He was also chosen as the best young MP by many national news agencies and magazines.
In the 2009 general election, Rijiju was defeated by a very thin margin of 1,314 votes by Congress candidate Takam Sanjoy under very controversial circumstances which witnessed massive violence amidst allegation of polling booth capturing by Congress Party.
In the 2014 general election, Rijiju was re-elected from the constituency and he found a place in Narendra Modi’s first best of 45 Council of Minister’s list.
Rijiju attracted criticism when, during the 2017 Rohingya refugee crisis, he stated that “Rohingyas are illegal immigrants and stand to be deported”. He also stated that “India has absorbed maximum number of refugees in the world so nobody should give India any lessons on how to deal with refugees”
Born in November 19, 1971 to a leading family of Rinchin Kharu and Chirai Rijiju of Nafra in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju’s father himself was the first pro-term speaker of Arunachal to give oath to the Members of the first State Assembly.
A graduate from Hansraj College, New Delhi, he studied law at the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He married Joram Rina (now Rina Rijiju) in 2004.
He was an active social worker since his school days. He led various social movements as a social worker and student leader. He was also a member of the youth and cultural team which participated in the Festival of India in USSR in 1987.
Rijiju has visited many countries in the Middle East, Europe and the US as a member of various Parliamentary delegations. His hobbies include playing badminton and cricket; he was even named the best athlete in his school and college days and he has participated in the National games.
Also read: Arunachal news
