On December 18, 2024, the Indian Parliament witnessed significant disruptions following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks concerning Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during a Rajya Sabha session. Opposition parties, led by the Congress, accused Shah of disrespecting Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, and demanded his immediate apology and resignation.
During his speech, Shah reportedly commented on the frequent invocation of Ambedkar’s name by opposition members, suggesting that it would be more beneficial if they also invoked the name of God. Many perceived this statement as belittling Ambedkar’s legacy. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, condemned the remarks, stating, “He has insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Constitution… He should apologise to the people of the country. He should resign from his position.”
In response, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with other opposition MPs, staged a protest within the Parliament premises, asserting that the nation would not tolerate any disrespect towards Ambedkar. Gandhi emphasized, “They are against Ambedkar and his ideology.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Amit Shah, accusing the Congress of spreading “malicious lies” and attempting to obscure their historical mistreatment of Ambedkar. Modi stated, “If the Congress and its rotten ecosystem think they can conceal their malicious lies and misdeeds of several years, especially their insult towards Dr. Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken!”
The controversy led to multiple adjournments in both houses of Parliament, and the uproar halted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Despite the tensions, Prime Minister Modi convened a meeting with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the selection of the next Chairperson for the National Human Rights Commission, indicating a continued effort to engage in essential governmental functions.
This incident underscores the deep-seated political divisions within India’s parliamentary system, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the ongoing debates over his role in contemporary Indian politics.
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