Modi Cabinet rejig: Kiren Rijiju removed as Law Minister, shifted to Earth Sciences

New Delhi: In a major rejig of the Cabinet led-by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kiren Rijiju was on Thursday removed as Union Minister for Law and Justice and allocated the portfolio of Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.

According to a statement issued by the President's Secretariat, Arjun Ram Meghwal will replace Rijiju as the Law Minister besides holding his existing portfolios.

"The President of India, as advised by the PM has been pleased to direct the following reallocation of portfolios among the Ministers.The portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences be assigned to Kiren Rijiju," said the communique issued by the President's Secretariat.

" Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State be assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Kiren Rijiju," it added.

Rijiju , who represents the Arunachal West parliamentary seat , was allocated the Law portfolio after the BJP rode to power at the Centre for the second term with a thumping majority in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

He had also served as the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sports Minister in the first stint of the Modi government. (UNI)