A major political controversy erupted on Tuesday following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during his speech in the Rajya Sabha. Shah, addressing the House on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, sparked a heated debate by suggesting that invoking Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion.”
This statement has led to accusations of disrespect from the opposition, particularly from the Congress party, while the BJP has dismissed these claims as politically motivated.
Shah’s comments included, “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they took God’s name that many times, they would have reached heaven.”
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The Home Minister went on to question the true sentiments of those invoking Ambedkar’s name, highlighting the constitutional architect’s resignation from the first Cabinet over disagreements with Jawaharlal Nehru’s government. He mentioned that Ambedkar had been dissatisfied with the treatment of Scheduled Castes and Tribes and had issues with the government’s policies on Article 370.
These remarks triggered an immediate backlash from the Congress. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the Home Minister’s comments, stating in a veiled remark that those following Manusmriti would naturally be troubled by Ambedkar’s legacy.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Shah and the BJP of attempting to discredit Ambedkar’s contributions, stating that the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, were opposed to the Constitution and had hoped to replace it with Manusmriti. Kharge emphasized that for millions of Dalits, tribals, and backward classes, Ambedkar was revered as a divine figure.
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Congress leaders have vowed to raise the issue in Parliament. MP B. Manickam Tagore announced that he would move an adjournment motion to discuss Shah’s comments. Tagore condemned the remarks as an attempt to undermine Ambedkar’s monumental role in drafting the Constitution and emphasized how they trivialized the struggles of marginalized communities.
In defense of Shah, the BJP dismissed the Congress’s criticism, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing the opposition of misusing Ambedkar’s name for political gain. Rijiju asserted that Shah was referring to how Congress had “misused” Ambedkar’s legacy while failing to follow his ideals. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also called Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate a “fake news factory” for sharing a clipped video of the speech.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal also joined the condemnation, accusing Shah of mocking Ambedkar. Kejriwal argued that Ambedkar’s Constitution was the foundation that allowed marginalized communities to live with dignity, warning that without it, the oppressed would have been denied basic rights.
This ongoing dispute has brought the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar into the political spotlight once again, with both sides of the political spectrum fiercely defending their positions.
