New Delhi: Amid row over Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B R Ambedkar, which led to noisy protests by Opposition members on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing it of “indulging in every possible dirty trick to obliterate his legacy and humiliate the SC/ST communities”.
“If the Congress and its rotten ecosystem think their malicious lies can hide their misdeeds of several years, especially their insult towards Dr. Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken! The people of India have seen time and again how one Party, led by one dynasty, has indulged in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and humiliate the SC/ST communities,” the PM posted on X.
He also enlisted what he called “Congress’ sins towards Dr. Ambedkar”.
>> Getting him defeated in elections not once but twice.
>> Pandit Nehru campaigning against him and making his loss a prestige issue.
>> Denying him a Bharat Ratna.
>> Denying his portrait a place of pride in Parliament’s Central Hall.
“Congress can try as they want but they can’t deny that the worst massacres against SC/ST Communities have happened under their regimes. For years, they sat in power but did nothing substantive to empower the SC and ST communities,” he further wrote.
PM also shared the video of Shah’s speech in Rajya Sabha. “…..exposed the Congress’ dark history of insulting Dr Ambedkar and ignoring the SC/ST Communities. They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, which is why they are now indulging in theatrics! Sadly, for them, people know the truth!”
Defending his government, Modi said that they have worked to develop Panchteerth, the five iconic places associated with Dr Ambedkar. “For decades, there was a pending issue on land for Chaitya Bhoomi. Not only did our government resolve the issue, I have gone to pray there as well. We have also developed 26, Alipur Road in Delhi, where Dr Ambedkar spent his last years. The house where he lived in London has also been acquired by the Government. When it comes to Dr Ambedkar, our respect and reverence is absolute,” he added.
In his speech in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the Home Minister had said there is now a “fashion” to keep repeating “Ambedkar, Ambedkar” but if the Opposition had taken God’s name so often, they would have got heaven for seven lives.
BJP leader and MP Kiren Rijiju also criticised Congress, accusing them of distorting Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar. He emphasised the BJP’s efforts to commemorate Ambedkar’s legacy by developing of pilgrimage places and the celebration of Constitution Day. He also slammed Congress for misleading the people with an edited clip.
‘Burnt The Effigy Of Baba Saheb’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the Opposition attack, alleging that Shah’s remarks betrays saffron party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) “hatred” for BR Ambedkar. He added that those who believe in Manusmriti will definitely be at odds with Ambedkar.
“The hatred is such that they are even irritated by his name. These are the same people whose ancestors used to burn the effigies of Baba Saheb, who themselves used to talk about changing the Constitution given by Baba Saheb.” Congress general secretary-in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
Congress and other opposition parties held protests on Parliament campus, demanding a public apology from Shah for his remarks, while raising slogans such as ‘Jai Bhim’, ‘Sangh ka Vidhan nahi chalega’ and ‘Amit Shah maafi maango’.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the “insult” of Ambedkar by Shah has once again proven that the BJP-RSS were against the tricolour, their forefathers opposed the Ashoka Chakra and the people of the Sangh Parivar wanted to implement Manusmriti instead of the Constitution of India, the PTI reported.
“Mask Had Fallen Off”
Meanwhile, TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien has submitted a privilege notice against the Union Home Minister for his remarks, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at BJP saying that the comments reflect the saffron party’s “castiest” and “anti-dalit mindset”.
The TMC supremo further claimed had the BJP would have “rewritten history to entirely erase Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions” had it secured its pre-poll aspirations of 400 seats in the Lok Sabha. “The mask has fallen! As Parliament reflects on 75 glorious years of the Constitution, HM Amit Shah chose to TARNISH this occasion with DEROGATORY remarks against Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, that too in the temple of Democracy. This is a display of BJP’s CASTEIST and ANTI-DALIT mindset. If this is how they behave after being reduced to 240 seats, imagine the damage they would’ve inflicted if their dream of 400 seats had been realised. They’d have rewritten history to entirely erase Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions,” she posted on X.
‘Insolence’: Uddhav Thackeray
Stating that the BJP leader displayed “insolence”, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray questioned the silence of BJP’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners on the controversy. “How BJP is insulting someone who gave us the Constitution is not acceptable to us. Will BJP and RSS take action against Amit Shah? Or did they tell Amit to say this?… Is this acceptable to other parties that have extended support to Amit Shah, be it Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar or Ajit Pawar? Will Ramdas Athawale continue to be in their cabinet even after this? Will the PM take action against him or did the PM tell him to say that?” ANI reported, quoting him.
