Kiren Rijiju replaces Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore as Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports

Kiren Rijiju has been appointed as new Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports in PM Modi’s cabinet. He has replaced 2004 Olympic medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

He was also named as the Minister of State for Minority Affairs.

Rijiju thanked PM Modi, Amit Shah and well-wishers across India in a tweet.

“My heartfelt gratitude to PM @narendramodi ji for reposing faith in me to be a member of his Council of Ministers. I sincerely thank @AmitShah ji along with karyakartas & well wishers across India. For me “LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT POWER AND PRIVILEGE, IT IS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY,” Rijiju tweeted.

“Indian Olympic Association extends heartiest congratulations to hon’ble @KirenRijiju on being appointed as the Minister of State for @YASMinistry,” IOA tweeted.

Rijiju, 47, who is BJP’s face in Northeast, had served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs in the first Narendra Modi government. He was re-elected from the Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency in the recently concluded elections. He defeated Congress candidate and former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.