Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reacted to the opposition's protest against Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. Modi accused the Congress of trying to erase the legacy of the Dalit icon through its actions and policies.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "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!"
Prime Minister Narender Modi emphasised that BR Ambedkar had long been undermined by the Congress. He charged that the BJP was using "dirty tricks" to insult the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) populations and minimize Ambedkar's contributions.
Congress' history of misdeeds
PM Modi pointed out specific actions by Congress that he called "sins" against Ambedkar:
- Ensuring Ambedkar's defeat in elections twice, with Pandit Nehru personally campaigning against him.
- Denying Ambedkar the Bharat Ratna during their rule.
- Refusing to give Ambedkar's portrait a prominent place in Parliament’s Central Hall.
He also criticised the Congress for failing to address the issues faced by SC/ST communities during its time in power. "Congress can try as they want, but they can’t deny that the worst massacres against SC/ST communities happened under their regimes," he said.
Amit Shah’s remarks spark outrage
The controversy began after Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Shah accused Congress of using Ambedkar's name superficially, saying, "It has become a fashion to repeatedly invoke Ambedkar's name. If they had taken God's name this many times, they would have earned a place in heaven."
Shah’s comment triggered protests from Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, among others, condemned the remarks. Gandhi said on X that "those who believe in Manusmriti will always oppose Ambedkar."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP and RSS of being against the Constitution, claiming their ideology is rooted in Manusmriti rather than the values of Ambedkar. Kharge also demanded Shah's resignation, stating, "He has insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Constitution... We condemn this and demand an apology and his resignation."
PM Modi’s response
Amid the uproar, PM Modi defended Amit Shah and reiterated his criticism of Congress, accusing them of neglecting and disrespecting Ambedkar’s legacy. Modi's comments sought to highlight what he called "Congress' misdeeds" over decades, reaffirming his government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision and the upliftment of SC/ST communities.
This ongoing political clash underscores the deep divisions between the ruling party and the opposition over the interpretation of Ambedkar’s legacy and contributions to India’s Constitution.
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