New Delhi, Dec 18: Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress party on Wednesday of misrepresenting his remarks regarding B.R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. He characterized the Congress’s actions as a malicious campaign that sought to portray the party as “anti-Ambedkar and anti-reservation” after discussions on the Constitution.
During a press conference, Shah stated that the Congress had no valid response to the discussions in Parliament, leading to their strategy of distorting statements made by him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create confusion among the public.
He emphasized that his comments in the Rajya Sabha were unambiguous and recorded, asserting that he belongs to a party and ideology that would never disrespect the Constitution’s architect and his ideals, “not even in dreams.”
“The Congress’s actions are highly condemnable,” Shah told reporters. “This occurred because BJP leaders highlighted how our governments have consistently upheld constitutional values, demonstrating that the Congress is anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution, and anti-reservation.” Shah further remarked on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s call for his resignation, jokingly stating he’d consider resigning if it would please the opposition leader but noted that this wouldn’t solve the Congress’s challenges—they would remain in opposition for another 15 years.
He pointed out Kharge’s Dalit roots, akin to Ambedkar’s, stating the Congress president should have refrained from participating in this negative campaign under “pressure” from Rahul Gandhi.
When asked if his statements had provided the fragmented opposition INDIA bloc an opportunity to unite, he replied that political parties often come together under a “misguided narrative,” but opinions can shift rapidly.
Shah observed that electoral outcomes tend to favor the ruling party, prompting opposition groups to spread disinformation—sometimes blaming Electronic Voting Machines, or fantasizing about having won elections.
His press conference at the BJP headquarters concluded a day filled with intense political maneuvers following his remarks, as senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fellow ministers, rallied in support of Shah after a significant backlash from Congress and other opposition parties.
The Congress had earlier shared a clip of Shah’s speech, accusing him of disrespecting Ambedkar, a revered figure particularly among Dalits. Shah’s comment, “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If they had taken God’s name this many times, they would have gotten a place in heaven in all seven lives,” provoked outrage.
Shah reiterated the BJP’s satisfaction at Congress mentioning Ambedkar’s name but insisted that the opposition should also be transparent about their true feelings towards him, providing examples of past disrespect from the Congress party.
The BJP responded with a campaign to share the larger context of Shah’s address, highlighting its purpose of exposing Congressional allegations of disrespecting Ambedkar’s legacy, contrasting this with the BJP’s efforts to promote his contributions and ideas.
Surrounded by senior BJP figures like party president JP Nadda and other ministers, Shah indicated that the party would consider all legal avenues available to them, potentially including actions against Kharge and Gandhi for their alleged misrepresentation of his comments.
He urged media outlets to present his words in their entirety and reiterated multiple accusations against Congress, such as their treatment of Ambedkar, failure to acknowledge his contributions, and overall mismanagement during their tenure.
Shah highlighted that no memorial for Ambedkar was established during Congress rule, while the Modi government has worked to develop five sites considered sacred by Ambedkar’s followers as “panchteerth.”
“Whenever the BJP has been in power, we have promoted Ambedkar’s principles and supported reservation policies,” he noted.
In response, Kharge criticized Shah for disrespecting Ambedkar and demanded a public apology from the Home Minister, urging Prime Minister Modi to dismiss him if he fails to resign voluntarily. (PTI)
