Rijiju move a good signal

If anyone doubted if the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be able to draw the right conclusions from the drubbing at the electoral hustings in Karnataka and take course-correcting action, the lightning-quick decision to shift the controversial Kiren Rijiju as Union law minister and replace him with Arjun Ram Meghwal, as a minister of state with independent charge, is a clear answer.

The BJP has understood that it must both practise, and project, excellence in no-nonsense governance and reduce its ideological intensity and confrontational posturing, especially with different arms of the government.

Ever since Mr Rijiju took charge as a minister, replacing Ravi Shankar Prasad, in July 2021, there has been a non-stop projection of the executive being at loggerheads with the judiciary. Whether it was a collegium issue concerning the appointment of judges, or any other relating to specific judgments or judicial observations, there were frequent exchanges perceived by the country as run-ins between the government, the ruling BJP and the judiciary.

De-escalating tension between the executive and legislature, and the judiciary is a very good signal, a sign that the government wishes to focus on governance and avoiding confrontations, or public exchanges, between the three arms of the government.

Of course, it is no one’s case that the minister is responsible — in politics and government, there is a well-established policy of taking collective responsibility. Mr Rijiju was also an important face from the Northeast for the government and the ruling party; yet, given the controversial and confrontational halo around his term in the law ministry, his shift marks a good signal.

Interestingly, Mr Meghwal, as an MoS, will be a law minister without a Cabinet rank, somewhat unprecedented in the past several years. Hopefully, peace will prevail and each of three branches of government will perform their best for the country and all its people.