Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of India, visiting Maharashtra frequently is a key part of the BJP’s strategy for the upcoming elections. The Marathi Buddhist community makes up about 6-7% of the state’s votes and is a key group that the BJP aims to attract before the elections. Kiren Rijiju is not only representing the tribal community in the Modi 3.0 government, but he is also the sole Buddhist representative at the Centre.
The party aims to utilize him to gain the backing of the Marathi Buddhist community in the western region. It has been reported that Kiren Rijiju has held over one hundred meetings throughout the state, engaging with influential community leaders and convening group gatherings with supporters.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Dalits abandoned the BJP because they were afraid that if the party gained a strong majority, they would change the Constitution and strip away the rights of the Dalits. 48 organizations issued a warning advising individuals to vote against the BJP-led coalition. The Union minister participated in the 2024 Bodhi Tree Grand Ceremony at Buddha Smarak, Trirashmi Buddha Cave in Nashik on Sunday. The event was a commemoration of the eternal lessons of Lord Buddha.
The Bodhi tree is a symbol of hope, urging us to find inner peace and show compassion to all creatures. I prayed to Lord Buddha and showed respect to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar ji. The tranquil environment at The Buddha Smarak emphasized the significance of peace, compassion, and unity in our daily lives. Kiren Rijiju stated on X that Lord Buddha’s teachings still lead us towards building a peaceful society grounded in love.
Kiren Rijiju also stated that the government’s dedication was demonstrated when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the UN, declared that India has contributed Buddha, not Yudha (peace, not war). Each Buddhist desires to visit the significant sites related to Lord Buddha’s birthplace in India during their lifetime. Places like Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Kushinagar are highly fascinating.
The minister also pointed out that constructing an international airport at Kushinagar and consistently working to improve Sarnath and Bodh Gaya are included in the government’s promises. He further informed the public that the Maharashtra government played a key role in starting the process of transforming Dr. Ambedkar’s residence in London into a museum. In addition, the Union minister has been making regular visits to different locations in Maharashtra connected to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, such as his home in Sambhajinagar.
Kiren Rijiju warned the people of Maharashtra to be careful of the opposition, particularly the Congress, who have been focusing on the Constitution. During his visit to Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, Rijiju recently expressed that those who insulted Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, destroyed the core of the Indian Constitution, and enforced Emergency, should not mention Constitution and Babasaheb.
The well-being of different communities, including Dalits, has been emphasized by the Union minister through the recent granting of classical language status to Marathi, a longstanding request, and to Pali, significant for Buddhists. Buddha delivered his sermons in the Pali language.
A delegation of Bhikkhu Sangha members met with and congratulated PM Modi for declaring Pali as a classical language during his visit to the state on October 5. To show their gratitude, they also recited some Pali verses. During his recent trip to Laos, the Prime Minister met with Buddhist monks and was blessed by them.