Friday, 20 December 2024
Friday, 20 December 2024
The political storm over Union home minister Amit Shah’s remarks about Dr. B R Ambedkar during a Rajya Sabha debate continued on Thursday with both the BJP and Congress allegedly exchanging blows against each other, which led both the parties to lodge FIR.
After the Trinamul, the Congress submitted a privilege notice against Shah on Thursday. On Wednesday, Kharge had asked the Prime Minister to sack Shah from the cabinet.
Besides Kharge, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, took the opportunity to highlight their commitment to Ambedkar's vision while attacking the BJP's stance.
Mallikarjun Kharge: Privilege notice filed
Congress president and leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, submitted a privilege notice against Shah. Kharge alleged that Shah’s comments were not only defamatory but also an affront to Ambedkar.
"I hereby give a notice of question of privilege against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs under Rule 188 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)," Kharge stated in his notice. Referring to Shah’s remarks as "insulting and defamatory," he said, "To use the name of Dr. BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India, is a clear-cut insult to Dr. Ambedkar."
On Wednesday, Kharge in a news conference had asked the Prime Minister to sack Shah from the Cabinet. Shah, in his retort, said, “If my resignation makes Kharge ji happy I can give but this won’t solve his troubles; he has to remain in opposition for 15 more years.”
Arvind Kejriwal: ‘Ambedkar is modern India’s god’
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal joined the fray and said: "Ambedkar is no less than the god of modern India," he declared during at the capital’s Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir. Kejriwal further alleged that Shah’s remarks revealed an underlying hatred for Ambedkar. "These words in themselves were very painful and insulting to Ambedkar. But the tone in which he said it seemed that how much he hates Baba Saheb."
Akhilesh Yadav: BJP’s animosity towards Ambedkar
Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of harbouring animosity toward Ambedkar and his Constitution. "What happened is not just an insult to Babasaheb, but also to the Constitution he gave us," Yadav posted on X, alleging that the BJP considers the Constitution its 'biggest opponent.' "The BJP’s negative mindset is evident. This is highly condemnable and deeply concerning," he said, emphasising the Constitution’s role as a shield against exploitation and oppression.
Mayawati: ‘Take back the remarks’
Mayawati demanded an immediate apology and retraction of Shah’s remarks. "The words used by the BJP's Amit Shah in Parliament... have greatly harmed Babasaheb's dignity," she said, adding that the incident has caused "tremendous anger and resentment" among Ambedkar’s followers.
Mamata Banerjee: ‘I’m shocked’
Banerjee, speaking at the inauguration of the 'Kolkata Christmas Festival' at Allen Park in Park Street area said, “I am shocked at the comments made about Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
On Wednesday, Banerjee had posted her views on the controversy on X.
"The mask has fallen! As Parliament reflects on 75 glorious years of the Constitution, HM @AmitShah chose to TARNISH this occasion with DEROGATORY remarks against Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, that too in the temple of Democracy," she wrote. "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 alleged.
J.P. Nadda: Congress’ ‘anti-Ambedkar’ legacy
The BJP turned its guns on the Congress, with party President J.P. Nadda accusing the Opposition of hypocrisy. "Pandit Nehru hated Dr. Ambedkar. That is why Pandit Nehru got Dr. Ambedkar defeated twice," Nadda alleged in a post on X. "In November, you lost badly in Maharashtra. At least now stop lying. Because your lies will not go unchecked," Nadda asserted, iterating the BJP’s claim of honouring Ambedkar’s legacy through the Modi government’s initiatives.
Dharmendra Pradhan: NCERT text showed Nehru whipping Ambedkar
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan Thursday slammed the Congress, alleging it has always hated BR Ambedkar and had included a cartoon in an NCERT textbook showing Jawaharlal Nehru "whipping" Ambedkar. He claimed that the "crocodile tears" of the Congress over Ambedkar are just pretence.
"Suddenly the Congress has got a lot of respect for Babasaheb Ambedkar. These crocodile tears of the Congress for Babasaheb are just a pretence, there is a huge difference between their words and actions. The Congress party's hatred and contempt for Babasaheb is well known,” Pradhan wrote in a post on X.
Shah’s remarks Tuesday, which many Opposition leaders termed 'derogatory' and 'insulting,' have opened up a fierce debate over the legacy of Ambedkar, a Dalit icon and the architect of the Indian Constitution. Shah later defended his comments in a news conference and put the blame on the Congress for disrespecting Ambedkar for years.
While Opposition leaders have used the incident to attack the BJP, the ruling party has defended itself by citing its efforts to honour Ambedkar.
