Union Minister Kiren Rijiju recently launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of neglecting and humiliating B. R. Ambedkar, the Architect of the Indian Constitution. Rijiju emphasised that those who once treated Ambedkar poorly should not now attempt to insult his legacy.
The Union Minister made these remarks while addressing a gathering at Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, the site where Ambedkar embraced Buddhism. During his speech, Rijiju appealed to members of Ambedkar's community not to support the Congress, which he said had neglected Ambedkar.
He reminded the audience that Ambedkar, who was India's first Law Minister, had resigned from his position under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, stating that it was difficult to continue working in the cabinet. Rijiju went on to claim that Nehru and the Congress party actively worked against Ambedkar whenever he contested elections, making efforts to defeat him.
The Union Minister criticised the Congress's narrative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, if re-elected, would make changes to the Indian Constitution. He called this claim a "fake campaign" under the banner of 'Save the Constitution.'
Rijiju also criticised the Congress for amending the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment and for imposing the Emergency in 1975, which he argued was an assault on democracy. According to him, these actions were an affront to the democratic values that Ambedkar stood for.
Rijiju contrasted Congress's treatment of Ambedkar with the recognition given to him under subsequent governments. He highlighted that Babasaheb Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1990 during the government of Vishwanath Pratap Singh, which had BJP's support. This recognition, according to Rijiju, marked a significant shift towards honouring Ambedkar’s contributions to India.
The Union Minister also praised Prime Minister Modi for taking steps to preserve and honour Ambedkar's legacy since coming to power in 2014. He outlined several initiatives undertaken in Ambedkar's name.
For example, five significant sites related to Ambedkar’s life have been developed to commemorate his legacy. Rijiju pointed out that Ambedkar’s birthplace in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, has been transformed, as well as the place in London where Ambedkar lived and studied law, which has been converted into a museum.
He also mentioned Shiksha Bhoomi in New Delhi, where Ambedkar attained Mahaparinirvana, which has been developed as Mahaparinirvana Bhoomi. Furthermore, Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai is being developed as a tribute to Ambedkar.
These initiatives, according to Rijiju, are part of a broader effort to keep Ambedkar's ideology and principles alive in the minds of the people. He highlighted that these memorials and sites offer an opportunity for people to visit and learn about Ambedkar’s life, beliefs, and the values he stood for.
Rijiju also took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the Modi government, stating that India's prestige has grown on the global stage since Modi took over as Prime Minister.
He praised Modi's vision for India and emphasised that initiatives like those undertaken for Ambedkar are part of building a "Viksit Bharat" or "Developed India" by the year 2047, the centenary of India’s independence.
In his concluding remarks, the Union Minister appealed to people to contribute to the vision of a developed India, urging citizens to actively participate in the country's progress. He framed this as part of Prime Minister Modi's vision, which he said is about creating a stronger, united, and prosperous nation.
Rijiju’s remarks come at a time when the political atmosphere in India remains highly polarised, with various parties attempting to position themselves as the true guardians of the nation's founding values.
His comments also reflect the ongoing political discourse around Ambedkar’s legacy and how different parties have claimed ownership of his contributions to the country.
The Union Minister's statements at Deekshabhoomi were a clear effort to align the Bharatiya Janata Party with Ambedkar’s values, portraying the party as one that truly honours his memory while painting the Congress as having disrespected his contributions.
By emphasising the initiatives undertaken under Modi’s leadership, Rijiju aimed to show that the current government has taken significant steps to preserve Ambedkar's ideology and the values of equality and justice that he stood for.