On June 9th, the swearing-in ceremony for the new Modi government took place, marking the beginning of BJP’s third consecutive term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A total of 72 ministers took oath, with 30 ministers being part of the cabinet, 5 having independent charge, and the remaining 36 appointed as Ministers of State. However, despite the inclusion of five minority ministers, there is a notable absence of representation from the Muslim community.
Five Minority Ministers in the New Cabinet
Ravneet Singh Bittu
Ravneet Singh Bittu, a prominent member of the Sikh community, is one of the minority ministers in the new cabinet. Despite losing the election from Ludhiana, Punjab, he secured a ministerial position. Bittu joined the BJP just before the elections, having previously been a Congress MP for three consecutive terms. Although he gained significant support in urban areas, the farmers’ protests against the BJP led to his defeat in rural regions.
Hardeep Singh Puri
Hardeep Singh Puri, also from the Sikh community, is another minority minister. In the previous government, he served as the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Puri joined the BJP in 2014 and became a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh in November 2020. His continued presence in the cabinet underscores his significant role in the Modi administration.
George Kurien
George Kurien, representing the Christian community, is the third minority minister in the cabinet. Kurien is a notable figure from Kerala, where he is the General Secretary of the BJP Kerala unit. Although he is neither a Rajya Sabha member nor a Lok Sabha MP, he has previously served as the Vice-President of the National Minority Commission. A lawyer by profession, Kurien is a well-known face in TV debates and political discussions.
Kiren Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju, hailing from the Buddhist community, represents Arunachal Pradesh’s West seat in the Lok Sabha. Rijiju has been a cabinet member since 2014 and is a crucial player in the Prime Minister’s ‘Look East Policy’. He secured his seat with a significant margin of over one lakh votes, reinforcing his strong political presence in the region.
Ramdas Athawale
The fifth minority minister is Ramdas Athawale, also from the Buddhist community. A seasoned politician and social worker from Maharashtra, Athawale previously served as the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. Born on December 25, 1959, in Agalgaon, Sangli district of Bombay State, Athawale has a long-standing history of political and social activism. He is married to Seema Athawale and has one son.
While the Modi government has included five minority ministers in its latest cabinet, the absence of any Muslim representation has sparked discussions and debates. The selected ministers come from diverse backgrounds, including the Sikh, Christian, and Buddhist communities, highlighting the BJP’s effort to showcase inclusivity within the constraints of their political strategy. The distribution of portfolios to these ministers is yet to be decided, and it remains to be seen how their roles will impact the governance and political landscape of India.
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