New Delhi [India], December 22: Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Sunday condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks in Parliament about Dr. BR Ambedkar, calling them an insult to both Baba Saheb and the Constitution of India.
Prasad criticized Shah’s statement, saying, “The comment made by the Home Minister is an attack on the honor of Baba Saheb. It is highly insulting. Not only has he insulted Baba Saheb, but he has also insulted the Constitution. The Home Minister must retract his statement and clarify his ideology to the nation.”
In addition, Prasad expressed concerns over the excavation at an old stepwell in the Chandausi area of Sambhal, alleging that it was an attempt to divert attention from more pressing issues, such as the unavailability of fertilizers for farmers and Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Ambedkar. “There are far more important issues that need the attention of Yogi Adityanath’s administration,” he added.
Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya confirmed on Sunday that a ‘baoli’ (stepwell) with an area of 400 square meters had been uncovered, which contained multiple chambers and floors made of marble.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai also condemned Shah’s comments, accusing him of disrespecting Ambedkar and the Constitution. Rai pointed out that Shah did not even address Ambedkar with the respectful “Ji” suffix, suggesting Shah’s alignment with anti-Dalit sentiments. He further alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) do not wish to follow the path laid out by Ambedkar.
Shah’s remarks sparked protests in Parliament, with both Treasury and Opposition benches staging demonstrations. This led to a violent scuffle between the two sides, resulting in injuries to two BJP MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput. The protests were centered around Shah’s comments on Ambedkar, with the Opposition demanding his resignation.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also claimed that he was pushed by BJP MPs as tensions escalated, marking a dramatic face-off between the two parties during the protests.