New Delhi, December 18: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized the BJP following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Gandhi alleged that the BJP is fundamentally opposed to Ambedkar and his ideology, accusing the party of attempting to undermine the Indian Constitution, which Ambedkar played a pivotal role in drafting.
"This is against the Constitution. From the beginning, they have been saying they would change the Constitution. They are against Ambedkar ji and his ideology. Their sole agenda is to finish the Constitution and the work done by Ambedkar ji. The entire country knows this," Rahul Gandhi remarked during a press interaction.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also joined the criticism, condemning Amit Shah's comments and accusing the BJP of disrespecting Ambedkar. "The way Amit Shah spoke in Parliament displayed arrogance. He mocked the reverence for Ambedkar, saying people should take God's name instead. Who are you to judge? Ambedkar ji transcends political boundaries. Insulting the man who gave us the Constitution is unacceptable," Thackeray said. He also challenged BJP allies, including Nitish Kumar and Ajit Pawar, to clarify their stance on Shah's remarks.
The controversy erupted after Amit Shah, addressing Parliament, said that it had become a "fashion" for the Congress to invoke Ambedkar's name. Shah suggested that if Congress leaders had invoked God as much as they invoked Ambedkar, they "would have earned heaven for seven lives."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Shah's remarks, accusing the Congress of feigning outrage. "In Parliament, Amit Shah Ji exposed the Congress' dark history of insulting Dr. Ambedkar and ignoring SC/ST communities. Congress is now resorting to theatrics because the truth has left them stunned," PM Modi stated on X.
Highlighting historical injustices under Congress regimes, Modi added, "Congress can't deny the worst massacres against SC/ST communities happened under their rule. For decades, they stayed in power but failed to empower marginalized communities."
As the debate continues, the political fallout underscores the significance of Ambedkar's legacy in contemporary Indian politics.
