New Delhi [India]: Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of being “anti-BR Ambedkar, anti-reservation, and anti-Constitution,” while defending his remarks during a Rajya Sabha debate on the Constitution’s 75th anniversary. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Shah criticized Congress for allegedly misrepresenting his statements and highlighted their historical opposition to Ambedkar and constitutional values.
“Since yesterday, Congress has been presenting the facts in a distorted way, and I condemn it. Congress is anti-BR Ambedkar, it is against reservation and the Constitution. Congress also insulted Veer Savarkar. By imposing Emergency, they violated all Constitutional values,” Shah stated.
He pointed to Congress’ alleged indifference to Ambedkar’s contributions, claiming their governments failed to honor him with a Bharat Ratna. “Congress governments did not give Bharat Ratna to Ambedkar. It was only in 1990, under a government supported by BJP, that Ambedkar was conferred the Bharat Ratna. On the other hand, Nehru gave Bharat Ratna to himself in 1955, and Indira Gandhi did the same in 1971,” he said.
The Home Minister also alleged that Congress harbored animosity towards Ambedkar, saying, “Nehru’s hatred towards Ambedkar is well known. When the discussion was going on in Parliament, it was proved how the Congress opposed Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Congress tried to make fun of Baba Saheb even after his death.”
Shah attacked Congress’ record on constitutional values, referencing the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. “By imposing Emergency, Congress violated all Constitutional values,” he asserted.
The remarks have sparked a massive political row, with Congress accusing Shah of being anti-Ambedkar and demanding his resignation.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Shah’s defense, describing his speech as an exposé of Congress’ “dark history” of disrespecting Ambedkar. In a series of posts on X, Modi claimed that Congress ignored the plight of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities during its decades in power.
“In Parliament, 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!” PM Modi wrote.
He added, “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.”
The escalating debate underscores the deep-seated political rivalry over Ambedkar’s legacy and the role of constitutional values in Indian governance.