Rijiju thanks Maharashtra's Buddhist community for heartfelt video
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly thanked Maharashtra's Buddhist community on 9 August 2026, calling a video they shared 'loving and heart touching.' The gesture reflects the Minority Affairs Minister's ongoing engagement with Buddhist groups across India.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a video from Maharashtra's Buddhist community on 9 August 2026 , calling it 'loving and heart touching.' Rijiju expressed gratitude in Hindi, addressing the community as 'Buddhist brothers and sisters of Maharashtra.' Maharashtra hosts one of India's largest Buddhist populations, rooted in the mid-20th century Navayana conversion movement.
Rijiju holds the portfolios of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs , giving him a formal mandate for community engagement.
His home state Arunachal Pradesh also has a significant Buddhist population, reinforcing his personal and political connection to the community.
A video from Maharashtra's Buddhist community moved Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju enough to share it publicly on Sunday, 9 August 2026 — calling it 'loving and heart touching' and expressing deep gratitude to the state's Buddhist brothers and sisters.
Rijiju wrote, 'Such a loving & heart touching video! महाराष्ट्र के बौद्ध भाई-बहनों का बहुत-बहुत आभार' — 'Many, many thanks to the Buddhist brothers and sisters of Maharashtra.' The post, shared with an attached video, signals a warm personal acknowledgment rather than a formal ministerial statement.
Maharashtra's Buddhist community and its national weight
Maharashtra is home to one of India's largest Buddhist populations — communities whose roots trace to the mass conversion movement of the mid-20th century, when B.R. Ambedkar led hundreds of thousands into Navayana Buddhism. That legacy gives the community a distinct political and cultural presence in the state, and gestures of recognition from a sitting Minority Affairs Minister carry symbolic resonance.
Rijiju's own home state of Arunachal Pradesh has a significant Buddhist population, and his ministerial portfolio covering minority affairs has kept him in regular engagement with Buddhist groups across regions. Public acknowledgments of community outreach — particularly ones framed in the language of familial warmth — are a recurring feature of this ministerial role.
Point of View
Familial framing ('brothers and sisters') is consistent with the BJP's broader effort to deepen outreach to Ambedkarite Buddhist communities, a demographic that has historically leaned toward opposition parties. The acknowledgment costs nothing politically and builds goodwill ahead of any future state or national electoral cycle.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kiren Rijiju thank Maharashtra's Buddhist community?
Rijiju shared a video sent by Maharashtra's Buddhist community and described it as 'loving and heart touching,' publicly expressing gratitude to them on 9 August 2026.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh who currently serves as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs.
How large is Maharashtra's Buddhist population?
Maharashtra has one of India's largest Buddhist populations, largely descended from communities that converted to Navayana Buddhism under B.R. Ambedkar's movement in the mid-20th century.
What is the Ministry of Minority Affairs responsible for?
The Ministry of Minority Affairs oversees welfare schemes, policy, and community engagement for India's recognised religious minorities, which include Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians.
Does Kiren Rijiju have a connection to Buddhism?
Yes — Rijiju's home state of Arunachal Pradesh has a substantial Buddhist population, and his Minority Affairs portfolio has kept him in regular engagement with Buddhist communities across India.
