News Brief

'Congress And Its Rotten Ecosystem...': PM Modi Responds After Opposition Accuses Amit Shah Of Disrespecting Ambedkar

Kuldeep Negi

Dec 18, 2024, 01:42 PM | Updated 01:42 PM IST


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Countering the Opposition's charge accusing Home Minister Amit Shah of disrespecting Dr B R Ambedkar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (18 December) said the people have seen how the Congress has tried "every possible trick" to obliterate Ambedkar's legacy and humiliate Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The Parliamentary proceedings were adjourned on Wednesday following uproar over allegations by the Opposition accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of disrespecting B R Ambedkar.

“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! The people of India have seen time and again how one Party, led by one dynasty, has indulged in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and humiliate the SC/ST communities,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media platform X.

Addressing the House during the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution, Shah said taking B R Ambedkar's name had become a "fashion" now.

"It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar'. If they took God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven," he said.

"Take his name 100 times more, but I want to say what are your sentiments about him," Shah added.

Highlighting that Congress sidelined Ambedkar, Shah said the Dalit icon had to resign from the first Cabinet following his disagreement with the Jawaharlal Nehru-led government.

The Prime Minister also went onto list the times that the Congress had disrespected Dr Ambedkar.

"The list of the Congress' sins towards Dr. Ambedkar includes: Getting him defeated in elections not once but twice. Pandit Nehru campaigning against him and making his loss a prestige issue. Denying him a Bharat Ratna. Denying his portrait a place of pride in Parliament’s Central Hall," PM Modi said.

"Congress can try as they want but they can’t deny that the worst massacres against SC/ST Communities have happened under their regimes. For years, they sat in power but did nothing substantive to empower the SC and ST communities," he said.

Defending Amit Shah, he said, "In Parliament, HM Amit Shah Ji exposed the Congress’ dark history of insulting Dr. Ambedkar and ignoring the SC/ST Communities. They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, which is why they are now indulging in theatrics! Sadly, for them, people know the truth!".

"It is due to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that we are what we are! Our Government has worked tirelessly to fulfil the vision of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar over the last decade. Take any sector - be it removing 25 crore people from poverty, strengthening the SC/ST Act, our Government’s flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana and more, each of them has touched the lives of the poor and marginalised," PM Modi said.

"Our Government has worked to develop Panchteerth, the five iconic places associated with Dr. Ambedkar. For decades, there was a pending issue on land for Chaitya Bhoomi. Not only did our Government resolve the issue, I have gone to pray there as well. We have also developed 26, Alipur Road in Delhi, where Dr. Ambedkar spent his last years. The house where he lived in London has also been acquired by the Government. When it comes to Dr. Ambedkar, our respect and reverence is absolute," he added.

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Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.


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