Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Credit: PTI Photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hit back at the Congress party over the controversy sparked by Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. Modi accused the Congress of attempting to distort the legacy of the Dalit icon and of insulting him for years.
Modi took to social media on Wednesday, calling the opposition’s criticism a series of “malicious lies.” He said that the Congress, with its “rotten ecosystem,” could not erase its past misdeeds, particularly its treatment of Ambedkar, who played a pivotal role in drafting India’s Constitution. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the Congress party had, for years, tried to undermine Ambedkar’s legacy and insult the SC/ST communities.
“The Congress and its allies can spread lies, but they cannot hide the fact that they repeatedly insulted Dr. Ambedkar. From denying him a Bharat Ratna to campaigning against him in elections, their actions speak for themselves,” Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Modi further accused Congress of failing to honor Ambedkar’s contributions, citing how the party had denied him a Bharat Ratna, rejected a portrait of Ambedkar in Parliament’s Central Hall, and even orchestrated his defeat in two elections. He added that Congress had done little to address the challenges faced by Dalit communities while in power.
The comments came after a heated exchange in Parliament over remarks made by Amit Shah. On Tuesday, during a discussion on the Constitution’s 75th anniversary in the Rajya Sabha, Shah had criticized the Congress for turning Ambedkar’s name into a political “fashion.” He sarcastically remarked that if the Congress had invoked the name of God as frequently as Ambedkar’s, they would have earned a place in heaven.
Shah’s comment drew sharp criticism from Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Gandhi condemned Shah’s remarks, accusing him of being at odds with Ambedkar’s ideals. Kharge went further, calling Shah’s words an insult to Ambedkar and the Constitution. He also demanded Shah’s resignation, arguing that his ties to the Manusmriti and the RSS were incompatible with the values enshrined by Ambedkar in the Indian Constitution.
“The BJP-RSS ideology is clear—they do not respect Ambedkar’s Constitution. Shah should apologize and resign immediately,” Kharge said.
This exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding Ambedkar’s legacy, with both the BJP and Congress trying to claim ownership of his contributions to Indian society. The debate is far from over, with both sides continuing to make strong claims about their commitment to the Dalit community and the Constitution.
