A Buddhist Minority Affairs Minister, But Why Are Religious Groups Skeptical of Kiren Rijiju?

New Delhi- Kiren Rijiju's appointment as the Union Minister for Minority Affairs marks a historic moment in Indian politics.

As a tribal and a member of the minority Buddhist community and hailing from a remote state, Arunachal Pradesh, and the first Buddhist to hold this position, Rijiju's leadership is viewed as a potential shift in the Modi government’s approach towards the country's diverse minority communities. Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian also took charge.

Their appointments comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Modi government, which has faced numerous allegations of targeting minorities, dalits, and other marginalized groups since it first came to power in 2014.

Every international and national human rights body has indicted India for its treatment of religious minorities, specially Muslims and Christians.

Rijiju, who took charge of the minority affairs ministry on June 11, said the ministry will move forward with Modi’s mantra of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’.

Asked what he would tell those, both within the country and outside, who talk about persecution of minorities, Rijiju said, “We are not bothered by the propaganda. We are concerned about the welfare of every Indian. When the prime minister says ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishvas and sabka prayas’ means everybody has to be together, they have to be united in every sense.” He also added," We will work to bring all six minority groups of this country into the mainstream by doing inclusive politics and governance. "

However, while his appointment brings a glimmer of hope, many remain skeptical about the broader implications for minorities under the BJP-led administration.

The reaction to Rijiju's new role has been mixed across the country. The Mooknayak, spoke to several people from minority groups to gauge public sentiment on this development.

While some people expressed happiness about a Buddhist being at the helm of the Minority Affairs Ministry, the predominant sentiment was one of relief that the BJP had not achieved the overwhelming majority it sought in the recent elections.

Sanjay Bauddh, an active member of the Swayam Sainik Dal, a large network of Buddhist followers in Gujarat, sheds light on the numerous challenges faced by the Buddhist community, particularly regarding religious conversions.

Bauddh explains that while the procedures for conversion are ostensibly straightforward, district magistrates often complicate the process, forcing individuals to make multiple trips to obtain the necessary permissions for gatherings and events.

“Voluntary conversion should be a simple process, but in practice, obtaining a conversion certificate is a Herculean task,” Bauddh laments. He hopes that Kiren Rijiju, as the new Minister for Minority Affairs, will address these bureaucratic hurdles.

“Since Rijiju is now the minister, we will write to him to address these issues. We had previously appealed to the state government without success. Let’s see what he does for our community, which is also his community.”

Bauddh also points to the neglected state of Buddhist caves and structures in Gujarat. Despite their significance and the interest of tourists from India and abroad, these historical sites suffer from a lack of maintenance and repair. “Tourists visit these Buddhist sites, but the Gujarat government has ignored them,” he remarks.

Bauddh highlights a broader sentiment of disillusionment among converted Buddhists, who have renounced the Hindu way of life due to its hierarchical and discriminatory practices. “Buddhists, especially those who have converted, are not core voters of the BJP. We have distanced ourselves from Hindu orthodoxy and discrimination,” he explains.

While there are expectations from Rijiju, Bauddh remains cautious. “Rijiju, though a Buddhist, adheres to BJP ideology. He carries the Buddhist label, so there are expectations. If he does not work for the welfare of minorities, he should give up the label of being a Buddhist. At least then, we can drop our expectations.”

Shashikant Jadhav, treasurer of The Buddhist Society of India, expressed cautious optimism. "It is good news that Rijiju, a Buddhist, will look into the minority affairs, but I just hope he doesn’t follow any party ideology. He should work with free hands and free mind—there are various issues related to Buddhist conversions in different states," Jadhav said. He highlighted the inconsistency in laws regarding Buddhist conversions and reservation benefits across states, emphasizing that Rijiju's open-minded approach could significantly uplift Buddhist communities.

Buddhist communities across India face a myriad of challenges, including inconsistent legal frameworks concerning conversions and reservations.

In Maharashtra, Buddhists enjoy reservation benefits, but these are not extended to them in states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, where they are often asked to reconvert to Hinduism to avail these benefits.

Addressing such disparities is a major expectation from Rijiju’s tenure as Minority Affairs Minister.

When asked about his opinion on whether Kiren Rijiju's appointment as Union Minister for Minority Affairs could bring a more considerate approach towards minorities, veteran Christian activist John Dayal expressed skepticism.

Dayal, a member of the National Integration Council (NIC) of India, Secretary-General of the All India Christian Council, and a past president of the All India Catholic Union, has been a vocal critic against communal polarization, bigotry, and the spread of hatred between religious communities.

Dayal stated emphatically that Rijiju's appointment does not signal hope for a considerate approach towards minorities. He highlighted a perceived hostility of Buddhists towards Christians across various countries including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, and Sri Lanka.

According to Dayal, Buddhists, particularly those aligned with Hindutva ideologies, have been unsupportive of Christians. He also referenced "tighter crate tantrik Buddhism of the Himalayan vector" as potentially exacerbating this situation. However, he says, Ambedkarites who converted to Buddhism are liberals and tolerant towards all.

Dayal's remarks underscore a deep-seated concern regarding the intersection of religious identities and political ideologies in India. His viewpoint reflects broader apprehensions within minority communities about the direction of government policies under the BJP-led administration.

Notably, in January 2024, over 3000 Indian Christians from various walks of life, including politicians, retired bureaucrats, and religious leaders, came together to express their disapproval of the government's treatment of the minorities , especially Christian community in the country.

In a petition titled "Not In Our Name," sent to the President, Prime minister, Chief Justice of India and other dignitaries, the community members vehemently dissented the attacks and harassment faced by Christians since 2014, especially in BJP-ruled states. The United Christian forum had in its annual report said there are two incidents of persecution a day in the country.

Not only the Christians, members of the Sikh community too had alleged oppression. After hundreds of thousands of farmers of various faiths began protesting against the government’s new farm laws in November 2020, senior BJP leaders, their supporters on social media, and pro-government media, began blaming the Sikhs, another religious minority. They accuse Sikhs of having a “Khalistani” agenda, a reference to a Sikh separatist insurgency in Punjab in the 1980s and 90s.

On February 8, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke in parliament, describing people participating in various peaceful protests as “parasites,” and calling international criticism of increasing authoritarianism in India a “foreign destructive ideology.”

Election Outcome Shatters Modi's Dominance: Relief for India's Minority Communities

In 2014, Narendra Modi led the BJP to a sweeping victory, securing 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, marking a landmark outright majority after three decades. His mandate was further bolstered in 2019 when the BJP increased its tally to 303 seats, consolidating control over India's federal legislature and numerous states.

Modi's tenure seemed unassailable, prompting concerns among critics about the country's drift towards authoritarianism under his populist Hindu nationalist agenda.

However, as official vote counting extended past midnight on June 4, the results of the 2024 election delivered a surprise. Voters appeared to reject Modi's ambitions for an overwhelming mandate that could potentially reshape India's secular and democratic foundations.

Despite the BJP-led coalition securing a narrow parliamentary majority with 286 seats, the BJP itself only managed to win 240 seats—63 fewer than in 2019 and insufficient to govern independently with the required 272 seats.

This electoral outcome has brought a sense of relief among Christian communities and other religious minorities in India. Concerned about the implications of a stronger BJP mandate, these groups rallied for pluralism and expressed a preference for national harmony over narrow sectarianism and divisive politics.

According to Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), which represents over 65,000 Protestant churches, the election results signify a clear public endorsement of India's foundational ideals.