Rijiju pays tribute to freedom fighters on Independence Day
Synopsis
On Independence Day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju paid a solemn tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and all freedom fighters, honouring both the Gandhian and revolutionary traditions of India's independence struggle in a post tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted a tribute on 15 August marking India's Independence Day.
He honoured Mahatma Gandhi ( Pujya Bapu ) alongside all freedom fighters and revolutionaries of the independence movement.
His message invoked both the Gandhian tradition of non-violent sacrifice and the broader revolutionary spirit.
Rijiju tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the post, consistent with cabinet-level Independence Day messaging conventions.
The tribute is part of an annual national commemorative ritual observed by Union ministers every 15 August since 1947.
On Independence Day, 15 August, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju offered a solemn salute to the men and women who gave everything — their years, their comfort, their lives — so that India could be free. In a post on X, Rijiju invoked both the Gandhian tradition of non-violent sacrifice and the fire of India's revolutionary fighters, dedicating his tribute to all who made the singular goal of independence the purpose of their existence.
Writing in Hindi, Rijiju said: 'देश आज उन महान सपूतों का पुण्य स्मरण करता है' — 'Today the nation reverently remembers those great sons who reached the pinnacle of sacrifice and dedication for the country's freedom.' He singled out Mahatma Gandhi, widely revered as Pujya Bapu, alongside the broader constellation of freedom fighters and revolutionary icons who lit the flame of resistance across generations.
Gandhi, the revolutionaries, and a tradition of remembrance
Rijiju's tribute deliberately held both strands of the independence movement together — the path of ahimsa (non-violence) championed by Bapu, and the revolutionary tradition that produced figures willing to court death for the cause. This dual invocation is itself a long-standing feature of 15 August commemorations: the freedom struggle was never one voice, and the annual ritual of remembrance honours that plurality.
The minister also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his post, a gesture consistent with the convention of senior cabinet members aligning their Independence Day messaging with the Prime Minister's office as the nation's focal point for the day's ceremonies, anchored by the traditional address from the ramparts of Red Fort, New Delhi.
A cabinet voice in a national chorus
Rijiju's message is part of a broader, annual ritual in which Union ministers issue public tributes to freedom fighters on 15 August, reinforcing the national commemorative calendar. As a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh — a state on India's northeastern frontier, itself a living symbol of territorial sovereignty — his voice carries a particular geographic resonance on a day that celebrates the nation's hard-won borders and freedoms.
The nation's freedom did not arrive cheaply. Every 15 August, India pauses to reckon with that cost — and ministers like Rijiju ensure that reckoning stays public, stays loud, and stays grateful.
Point of View
But its deliberate embrace of both Gandhian and revolutionary traditions signals an inclusive nationalist framing that the BJP has increasingly cultivated. By tagging the Prime Minister, senior ministers amplify the government's unified ceremonial voice on a day that doubles as political branding. For a minister from Arunachal Pradesh — a frontier state whose sovereignty is itself a live diplomatic issue — Independence Day carries weight that goes beyond ritual. The annual chorus of tributes also serves to anchor the ruling party's identity in the freedom-struggle legacy, a narrative contest that remains central to Indian politics.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju say on Independence Day 2026?
Rijiju posted a tribute in Hindi honouring Mahatma Gandhi and all freedom fighters, saying the nation reverently remembers those who sacrificed their lives for India's independence and saluting the great revolutionary tradition they ignited.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh and currently serves as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs in the Government of India.
Why do Indian ministers post tributes on 15 August?
Independence Day on 15 August is a national commemorative occasion observed since 1947. Union ministers traditionally issue public tributes to freedom fighters as part of the official government calendar of remembrance.
Who is referred to as 'Pujya Bapu' in Independence Day messages?
'Pujya Bapu' refers to Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's non-violent independence movement and widely revered as the Father of the Nation.
Why did Rijiju tag PM Modi in his Independence Day post?
Tagging the Prime Minister on Independence Day is a common convention among senior cabinet ministers, aligning their public messaging with the national focal point of the day's ceremonies, traditionally anchored by the PM's address from Red Fort.
