Minorities receive more government support than Hindus: Kiren Rijiju sparks controversy

New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has asserted that the Narendra Modi government’s 11-year tenure has been marked by unprecedented support for India’s minority communities, describing it as a period of empowerment, participation, and transparency.

Highlighting the guiding principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, Rijiju said the Ministry has worked with the mantra of ‘bhagidari se bhagyodaya’ (participation leads to prosperity). “Minority communities today receive more targeted support and funding than the majority community, the Hindus,” he said. “What the minorities get, the Hindus don’t.”

Schemes driving empowerment

Among key initiatives, Rijiju listed the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), which has approved over 5.63 lakh infrastructure units across education, health, and sanitation in the past decade. Notably, over half of these assets have been geo-tagged for transparency, with spending exceeding ₹10,749 crore. Since 2023, the PMJVK has run entirely on a digital platform.

He also spoke of the ministry’s flagship skill development scheme, Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), which trained and empowered over 9.25 lakh individuals in the past 11 years. Structured placements rose from “zero” in 2014 to more than 10 lakh now, with a special focus on youth and women.

Scholarship disbursements have grown by 172% in the past decade, with an 182% rise in the number of women beneficiaries.

Hajj reforms and Waqf transparency

The Haj programme, too, has transformed, Rijiju said, citing fewer health-related incidents this year and a higher quota, up from 1.36 lakh in 2014 to 1.75 lakh in 2025. The Ladies Without Mehram (LWM) category, launched in 2018, saw 4,558 women perform Hajj in 2024.

Rijiju defended the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the operationalisation of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act, 1995. “These are not about centralisation or control, but about better tools, digital empowerment, and ensuring that Waqf revenues directly benefit ordinary Muslims, especially the poor and women,” he said.

The legislation, he pointed out, followed one of the most extensive consultative processes, with a Joint Committee of Parliament holding 38 meetings over 113 hours, consulting 184 stakeholders, and reviewing over 97 lakh representations.

The ministry also launched the UMEED Central Portal on June 6 to automate the life cycle of waqf properties — from registration to monitoring — to curb encroachments and misuse.

Budget and fellowship concerns

On the apparent sharp drop in budget allocation for minority education — from ₹1,575 crore last year to ₹678 crore this year — Rijiju said this was a shift in funding design. “It’s not a cut. The Centre now provides 60% (or 90% in Hill and Northeast states), and states share the rest. Allocation is now based on actual demand, not static blocks,” he explained.

Regarding delays in disbursing funds under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), Rijiju admitted there were complaints but blamed past misuse. “Thousands of fake names were submitted earlier, and agencies took money illegally. We’re ensuring there’s no duplication, especially in cases where students could claim multiple scholarships as both minorities and SC/ST,” he said. “Things are improving and will be sorted soon.”

“Inclusive development is real”

Summing up the government’s approach, Rijiju maintained that the focus has shifted from tokenism to genuine, measurable empowerment. “Minorities are not just recipients but active partners in India’s growth story,” he said.