NDA Leaders Meet To Counter Opposition's Allegations Of Amit Shah Insulting Ambedkar, Call Out Congress's 'Attention-Seeking'

Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) met on Wednesday (25 December) at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagat Prakash Nadda’s residence to strategise against the Opposition’s “false narratives” on the Constitution and Dr B R Ambedkar.

The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, focused on countering attacks from the Congress and the INDI Alliance, particularly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha were labeled an “insult” to Ambedkar by the Congress.

Shah reportedly told attendees, including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, that the Congress was attempting to create “false narratives.”

TDP echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for better coordination among NDA partners to counter the Opposition’s united front.

“In the meeting, we were told how the Congress MPs did not react when Shah, in his speech in Rajya Sabha, made the remark. But later, Congress leaders held a meeting where Rahul Gandhi was present and they decided to make the remark an issue to be highlighted. So, Congress conspired to make Shah’s comment an issue to only draw attention,” a leader familiar with the discussions said.

BJP leaders also highlighted the “misdeeds” of past Congress governments, including “insulting Ambedkar” and imposing Emergency. They urged allies to “expose” the Congress on the ground and inform people about the BJP-led NDA government’s efforts to honor Ambedkar, such as developing Panch Tirths (five places of pilgrimage) and empowering Dalits through welfare schemes.

The meeting came a day before the Congress Working Committee’s extended session in Belagavi, where the Opposition plans to mount a fresh offensive against the BJP over Ambedkar and caste census. The Congress rally, named Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan, aims to corner the BJP on these issues.

Leaders from NDA allies, including the JD(U), Shiv Sena, JD(S), TDP, and others, attended the meeting. While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were absent, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan, TDP leader K Rammohan Naidu, and others were present.