In a historic development for India, the newly appointed council of ministers alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not include any representatives from the Muslim minority community. This marks a significant departure from previous administrations, including the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, where such inclusion was more customary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath for his third consecutive term on June 9 at 7:15 pm, cementing his place as India’s 15th Prime Minister. The absence of a Muslim MP in his cabinet follows the departure of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who served as the Union Minister for Minorities until 2022, after his term in the Rajya Sabha ended.
Historically, under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership in 1998 and 1999, the cabinet included Muslim ministers such as Shahnawaz Hussain and Omar Abdullah. During Modi’s previous terms, Najma Heptulla and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi served as Union Ministers for Minority Affairs.
While the current cabinet of 71 ministers sworn in alongside PM Modi includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Sikh and Christian members like Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurien, it notably lacks representation from the Muslim community. However, significant Muslim representation exists in the Indian Parliament, primarily within the Opposition ranks.
These appointments underscore the BJP-led government’s approach to cabinet composition, reflecting broader political dynamics and parliamentary representation in India.
