A day after Kiren Rijiju was removed the position of law minister, he said that?his shift from the law ministry to a new department is not a punishment but a plan of the government.

"This shifting is a routine process. It's the Prime Minister's vision. Somebody has to take the responsibility. There hasn't been any mistake. It's the opposition's duty to speak against me, let them speak," Rijiju said, adding it is not a day to speak politics.

Kiren Rijiju on Friday assumed charge as Earth Sciences Minister and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him an opportunity to handle various portfolios.?India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra and Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor Vishwajit Sahay were present when Rijiju assumed charge as the Minister of Earth Sciences.

Rijiju took over as the law minister on 8 July?2021. Prior to that, he served as the minister of state with independent charge?of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019.

In a farewell post as the law minister, Rijiju thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also thanked Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the Supreme Court judges and other judges and law officers for their support during his tenure.

"It has been been a privelege and an honour to serve as Union Minister of Law & Justice under the guidance of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. I thank honble Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, all Judges of Supreme Court, Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts, Lower Judiciary & entire Law officers for the huge support in ensuring delivering ease of Justice and providing legal services for our citizens," read his tweet.

"I look forward to fulfilling the vision of Hon’ble PM Sh @narendramodi ji in the Earth Sciences Ministry with the same zeal and vigour I have imbibed as a humble karyakarta of @BJP4India," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)