Remarks on Ambedkar: Oppn corners govt, seeks Amit Shah's resignation

Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling his remarks about BR Ambedkar an insult to the architect of the Constitution.

This attack from virtually all opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK, RJD, Left parties, and Shiv Sena-UBT led to the adjournement of both houses of Parliament, prompting the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to defend Shah vigorously.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against Shah in the Rajya Sabha. Shah had stated on Tuesday evening that Congress leaders would have gained a place in heaven had they focused on chanting God's name instead of repeating Ambedkar's name, which he said was a trend.

The uproar in Parliament spilled onto the streets of the national capital and reached places as far as Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. In Delhi, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal led hundreds of supporters in a protest outside the BJP office, chanting slogans like “Amit Shah, maafi mango” (Amit Shah, apologize) and “Amit Shah, sharm karo” (Amit Shah, have some shame). 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav all criticised Shah for his comments, PTI reported.

"Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (There is now a trend of saying Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have earned a place in heaven)," Shah had said.

He also expressed that while the BJP is pleased to see Congress acknowledging Ambedkar, the party should be transparent about its true feelings towards him.

Kharge asserted that if Prime Minister Modi had any respect for Ambedkar, he should dismiss Shah immediately, should Shah fail to resign himself.

Former chief minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray claimed that Shah's remarks demonstrated the BJP's arrogance and revealed its true nature. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee alleged that Shah's comments reflected a "casteist and anti-Dalit mindset. “If this is how they behave after being reduced to 240 seats, imagine the harm they would have caused if their dream of 400 seats had come true. They would have rewritten history to erase Dr Ambedkar's contributions entirely,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin added, “Only those who commit more sins should be concerned about 'punya' (good deeds). Those who are genuinely concerned about the country, its people, and the protection of the Constitution will naturally mention Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar’s name.” "BJP leaders should hear this loud and clear, Babasaheb Ambedkar is our fashion, passion, inspiration and motivation as well," RJD leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said.