Cong's lies cannot hide its insults to Ambedkar, our reverence for him absolute: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stoutly defended Amit Shah from the Congress' charge that he insulted B R Ambedkar in his speech in the Rajya Sabha, asserting that the Home Minister in fact exposed the party's "dark history of insulting" the architect of the Constitution, leaving the main opposition "stung and stunned".
"They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, which is why they are now indulging in theatrics. Sadly, for them, people know the truth," Modi said in a series of posts on X.
When it comes to Ambedkar, his government's respect and reverence are absolute, the prime minister asserted.
In a searing attack on the Congress, Modi said if the party and its "rotten ecosystem" think their "malicious lies" can hide their misdeeds of several years, especially their insults towards Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken.
He said people of India have seen time and again how one party, led by one dynasty, a reference to the Nehru-Gandhi family, has indulged in every possible dirty trick to obliterate Ambedkar's legacy and humiliate the SC/ST communities.
The list of the Congress' sins towards Ambedkar includes getting him defeated in elections not once but twice, first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru campaigning against him and making his loss a prestige issue, denying him a Bharat Ratna, and not allowing his portrait a place of pride in Parliament's Central Hall, the prime minister said.
He said, "The Congress can try as they want but they can't deny that the worst massacres against SC/ST Communities have happened under their regimes. For years, they sat in power but did nothing substantive to empower the SC and ST communities."
Modi said it is due to Ambedkar that "we are what we are", as he listed a series of measures taken by his government to implement his vision and accord respect to the iconic personality.
He said his government has worked tirelessly to fulfil Ambedkar's vision over the last decade.
"Take any sector - be it removing 25 crore people from poverty, strengthening the SC/ST Act, our Government’s flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana and more, each of them has touched the lives of the poor and marginalised. Our Government has worked to develop Panchteerth, the five iconic places associated with Dr. Ambedkar," he added.
For decades, Modi said, there was a pending issue involving land for "Chaitya Bhoomi", where Ambedkar was cremated. "Not only did our Government resolve the issue, I have gone to pray there as well," he added.
"We have also developed 26, Alipur Road in Delhi, where Dr. Ambedkar spent his last years. The house where he lived in London has also been acquired by the Government. When it comes to Dr. Ambedkar, our respect and reverence is absolute," he said.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed protests from the Congress and some other opposition parties over Shah's alleged insult of Ambedkar, resulting in both the Houses being adjourned.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Not God, but Constitution that save oppressed people: Karnataka Minister Mahadevappa
Bengaluru, Dec 18: Condemning Amit Shah's comment on Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha on December 17, Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa said on Wednesday that it is the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb that is protecting the oppressed people and not the God.
"If we recall the situation of the untouchable communities in the history of India, there is no example of God protecting them when they were subjected to extreme humiliation and violence," said Mahadevappa.
On the contrary, the Constitution of India, Ambedkar's lasting legacy, has the real power to protect the lives of untouchables, women and the oppressed people every day, the minister said in a statement.
"Had these people sat chanting the name of Amit Shah's God, they would have joined God's feet by now," he quipped.
Joining opposition leaders in demanding Shah's resignation, Mahadevappa said Shah should not only resign as Union Home Minister for insulting the architect of the Constitution, but should also apologise to the people.
"I am reminded again and again of Babasaheb's words: 'No religion or God will save us, but education, rationality and scientific spirit are the keys to change our lives'," he added.
Shah's comment -- "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" (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven) -- has met with stiff opposition.
