Rijiju calls Mann Ki Baat a 'pilgrimage' for citizens
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on October 25 shared PM Modi's description of Mann Ki Baat as a 'pilgrimage' to understand and salute citizen contributions, reinforcing the monthly radio programme's role as a flagship government outreach platform since 2014.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, shared a video on October 25, 2026 quoting PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat .
PM Modi described Mann Ki Baat as a ' teertha yatra ' — a pilgrimage — to understand and honour citizens' efforts.
Mann Ki Baat was launched in October 2014 on All India Radio as a direct monthly address by the Prime Minister to citizens.
The programme focuses on grassroots citizen initiatives, keeping government in the background and ordinary Indians at the centre.
Senior BJP ministers regularly amplify Mann Ki Baat on social media, extending its reach through the party's communication network.
For Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, tuning into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address is not a routine political act — it is, in his own words, a pilgrimage.
Sharing a video on Sunday, October 25, 2026, Rijiju quoted the Prime Minister directly, writing in Hindi: 'मेरे लिए 'मन की बात' भी देश के लोगों के प्रयासों को करीब से जानने की और उनके योगदान को नमन करने की एक तीर्थ यात्रा से कम नहीं है' — translating to: 'For me, Mann Ki Baat is nothing less than a pilgrimage to closely understand the efforts of the people of this country and to pay tribute to their contributions.'
Mann Ki Baat: twelve years and counting
Mann Ki Baat first aired in October 2014 on All India Radio, when Prime Minister Modi broke from the scripted communication of most Indian governments and chose to speak directly — and monthly — to citizens in their own language. The programme spotlights grassroots initiatives: farmers who innovated, teachers who transformed villages, young entrepreneurs who built something from nothing. The format deliberately keeps the state in the background and the citizen at the centre.
That framing is precisely the register Rijiju's post captures. The word teertha yatra — pilgrimage — is not accidental. It carries weight in Indian public life: a pilgrimage is not a convenience, it is a deliberate journey toward something larger than oneself. Invoking it for a radio programme signals how senior BJP leaders have positioned Mann Ki Baat not merely as a broadcast but as a ritual of national communion.
Why ministers amplify the message
Senior BJP ministers periodically endorse and echo Mann Ki Baat on social media, a pattern that has been consistent across all twelve years of the programme. The effect is a distributed amplification network: each share extends the programme's reach into a minister's own follower base while reinforcing the government's overarching communication strategy of direct, citizen-first outreach. Rijiju, as Parliamentary Affairs Minister, occupies one of the government's key liaison roles — the man who manages the government's legislative agenda in both Houses. His voice on the programme carries institutional weight.
For the millions who tune in each month, the tribute is a reminder that what began as an experiment in radio outreach has become, over more than a decade, a fixture of India's political calendar — and, for its supporters, a window into the country's quieter stories of effort and resilience.
Point of View
Framing the address as a pilgrimage, reflects a deliberate communication choice: elevate the programme from policy tool to cultural institution. The consistent ministerial amplification pattern also reveals how the BJP has built a disciplined ecosystem around PM Modi's direct-outreach platforms. As the programme enters its thirteenth year, such endorsements signal that the government views this channel as evergreen, not ceremonial.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mann Ki Baat?
Mann Ki Baat is a monthly radio programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2014 on All India Radio, in which the PM speaks directly to citizens about grassroots initiatives, national issues, and inspiring citizen stories.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Mann Ki Baat?
Kiren Rijiju shared a quote from PM Modi describing Mann Ki Baat as 'nothing less than a pilgrimage' to closely understand the efforts of the people of India and to pay tribute to their contributions.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is India's Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs, a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh .
How long has Mann Ki Baat been running?
Mann Ki Baat has been running since October 2014 , making it over twelve years old as of 2026. It airs monthly on All India Radio and is broadcast across multiple languages.
Why do BJP ministers share Mann Ki Baat posts?
Senior BJP ministers regularly share and echo Mann Ki Baat content on social media to amplify the programme's reach and reinforce the government's strategy of direct, citizen-first communication.
