New Delhi [India]: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju has pushed back against opposition criticism alleging that the government is “bulldozing” legislation.
Speaking to media, Rijiju said such accusations often arise from disagreements over the content of bills. He recalled one such instance involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, where he felt compelled to step in.
Rijiju, who also serves as the Minister for Minority Affairs, acknowledged that assertiveness and energy are natural in politics but stressed that experience and patience are equally essential. He underlined the importance of adhering to parliamentary decorum and traditions.
Criticizing Mahua Moitra’s “Dariye mat” remark directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Winter Session of Parliament, Rijiju said the line between impassioned speech and disrespect must not be crossed.
“I can say only one thing that I have learned from Atalji also. When you are young, you can speak passionately and then show your aggression in whatever you want to do. But there’s a thin line called respect. If you miss that line, then it will be harmful to the member. If somebody has an intention of a long parliamentary career, one must be very careful about the words being used and the attitude being displayed on the floor of the House,” Rijiju said.
Reflecting on his own parliamentary journey since 2004, Rijiju said respect and stature are earned over time—not through haste or hostility.
“I have been there (in Parliament) since 2004. And from that day, I decided that I would never use abusive and foul language, especially against seniors. We should not think or speak ill of our colleagues, not only seniors. We are colleagues in the House. Especially with the seniors, we are there to learn from them. Atalji used to sit on the last bench, and then he slowly came to the middle, and finally, he was sitting in the front. This turn will come for everybody. But if you don’t have a long parliamentary career, then you will not get a chance to be in the front,” he said.
“That takes time. If you are in a hurry to make your presence felt, if you are in a state of mind that you have no patience, then I don’t think it will pay off because seniority and experience come with time. You can’t chase it and bring it. It comes naturally,” Rijiju added.
Addressing the incident from December 13, 2024, where Moitra accused him of threatening her in Parliament, Rijiju suggested that she was emotionally charged at the time.
“She was a bit overly worked up. She’s young, energetic, and all that–let her speak, that’s for the Chair to regulate. My only point was that when she accused one of our senior ministers, she made an inference about a sensitive incident and tried to link it in a very intelligent way, so I said that we understand your intention, and if needed, we will proceed as per parliamentary rules. That’s all I said. But she got upset,” Rijiju noted.
Moitra had posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“So @KirenRijiju openly threatens me in Lok Sabha today in complete violation of parliamentary rules & procedure. @ombirlakota says he will get Rijiju’s words deleted, but no action yet. Written to @IPUparliament against this continued gender harassment & intimidation yet again.”
Rijiju also elaborated on the challenges of his coordination role as Parliamentary Affairs Minister, especially in negotiating with various political parties outside the House.
“It is challenging, but I am thoroughly enjoying my position there by coming across so many different positions taken by different parties and then managing them to get on board… I try to open up…let us not be rigid, let us come to some understanding. I think these are part of the parliamentary democracy,” he added.
When asked about the controversy around the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussions on the Waqf Bill—where tensions reportedly led to a bottle being smashed—Rijiju acknowledged that tempers sometimes flare.
“So they try to resist the opinion by showing their anger. My advice to the members is the committee is there to listen to everybody, whether you like it or not. Listen to everybody,” he said.
He also admitted that he occasionally faces criticism for pushing time-bound legislation.
“Sometimes, I have to push through certain bills, certain business, which are required to be done in a stipulated time. They get angry with you? And then they will accuse me…Parliamentary Affairs Minister is bulldozing,” he said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025—passed after lengthy debates—aims to enhance management of Waqf properties, protect heritage sites, and promote social welfare. It has since received presidential assent from Droupadi Murmu.