Congress slams Amit Shah for ‘insulting’ Ambedkar in parliament, demands apology

On Tuesday, the Congress sharply criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his controversial remarks about Dr. BR Ambedkar in Parliament. Shah, during a speech in the Rajya Sabha, accused the Congress of using Ambedkar’s name as a “fashion.” He mocked the repeated mention of Ambedkar, saying, “If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have gone to heaven.”

Shah, addressing the ongoing discussion on the Constitution’s 75th anniversary, said the BJP is pleased that the Congress mentions Ambedkar, but questioned the party’s true feelings towards him.

This comment triggered outrage within the Congress. Rahul Gandhi took to X, stating that those who believe in Manusmriti would naturally oppose Ambedkar. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned Shah’s remarks, calling them an “insult” to Babasaheb Ambedkar. He argued that the BJP and RSS have always been opposed to Ambedkar’s principles and even wanted to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti. He further emphasized that for millions, Ambedkar is revered as a god and a champion of Dalits, tribals, and marginalized communities.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh termed Shah’s statement as “disgusting,” accusing the BJP of harboring deep hatred for Ambedkar. Ramesh recalled that BJP’s predecessors had opposed Ambedkar’s legacy, even burning effigies of him. He called on Shah to apologize to the nation for the remarks.

K C Venugopal, Congress General Secretary, also condemned Shah, stressing that Ambedkar’s contributions are sacred to millions worldwide. He noted the BJP’s long-standing disdain for Ambedkar and claimed that Shah’s comments only confirmed this bias.

The Congress leaders, including Ramesh and Venugopal, reiterated that the BJP’s views reflect a rejection of Ambedkar’s ideals, especially his fight against caste discrimination and the Manusmriti. They demanded that Amit Shah publicly apologize for his disrespectful remarks.