Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was moved from the law ministry to the Ministry of Earth Sciences on Thursday, 18 May. Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed the law minister.
Meanwhile, SP Singh Baghel, Minister of State, will be assigned as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in place of Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice.
“Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State be assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Shri Kiren Rijiju," a press release from the Rashtrapati Bhavan read.
Reacting to the development, Rijiju said on Twitter:
Who is Meghwal? Born into a Dalit weaver family in Bikaner, Meghwal got married when he was only 13. He made his way into the IAS, serving as District Collector of Churu before taking the plunge into politics. In 2016, he became a Union minister.
When Prime Minister Modi announced demonetisation bomb on 8 November 2016, Meghwal was the minister of state for finance.
“The more popular Modi ji becomes, the more such incidents will happen. During Bihar elections, it was ‘award wapsi’; in Uttar Pradesh, it was mob lynching. For 2019 elections, it will be something else. PM Modi gave several schemes, their effects can be seen, this (lynching) incident is just one reaction to it,” he said, according to The Hindustan Times.
He was reacting to the killing of Muslim Man Rakbar Khan, who was lynched to death on the suspicion of cow smuggling in Alwar.
Rijiju Vs Judiciary: Earlier this year in January, Rijiju had written to CJI Chandrachud suggesting that a government nominee be included in the Collegium. This was amid an ongoing tussle between the top court and Centre over a delay in appointment of judges.
“Judges are appointed once and they don't have to face elections. Judges can't even be scrutinised by the public. Public can't change judges but it is looking at them, their judgements, their way of functioning and dispensing justice. Public is watching all and making assessments. Nothing is hidden in the age of social media,” he had said.
Rijiju took over the law ministry in July 2021. A graduate from Delhi University's Campus Law Centre, he has been a three-time Lok Sabha MP.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)