Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, on the second day of the Lok Sabha’s Constitution Debate, spoke on behalf of the ruling party. Rijiju was the first speaker on the second day of the debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution’s adoption.
He emphasized that “India has provisions for affirmative action in addition to providing legal protection to minorities.” Kiren Rijiju claims that because India is a safe haven for minorities from all over the world, minorities who have experienced prejudice in Bangladesh and Pakistan seek refuge there.
He discussed the significance of the Indian Constitution, how the government’s actions are in line with it, and how the opposition is fabricating a narrative against it. Kiren Rijiju also discussed India’s provision of safety and security for minorities in his speech.
India not only provides legal protection to minorities, it also has a provision for affirmative action to protect their interests, the minister asserted. He further added that the situation in neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan where minorities are facing persecution is well-known.
Rijiju also questioned the delay in bestowing Ambedkar with the Bharat Ratna, only when BJP came into power. He added that even Jawaharlal Nehru gave more than 2,000 speeches over the course of 20 years, but he never “even once” mentioned the welfare of Scheduled Castes, according to Ambedkar.
