The political row surrounding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial remarks on Dr. BR Ambedkar during a Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha continues to intensify, triggering widespread backlash from the Opposition and civil society. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a fierce attack on Shah, calling his remarks a grave insult to the legacy of Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi take immediate action.
Kharge, addressing the media, declared that Amit Shah had "crossed all limits of decency" and called for his resignation. “Our demand is clear: Amit Shah must apologize to the nation, and if PM Modi truly respects Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, he must sack Shah from the Union Cabinet without delay. His continuation in office is a blatant affront to the dignity of Babasaheb’s legacy,” Kharge said. He warned that the Congress and other Opposition parties would take their protests to the streets if the demand was not met.
The controversy erupted after Amit Shah, during a debate in the Rajya Sabha, took a veiled dig at the Opposition for frequently invoking Ambedkar’s name. Shah remarked, “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’s name repeatedly. If they had taken God’s name this often, they would have attained heaven for seven lifetimes).”
The statement drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders, who accused Shah of trivializing the contributions of Ambedkar and disrespecting his legacy. Congress MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, staged a protest inside Parliament, holding portraits of Ambedkar and chanting slogans like “Jai Bhim” and “Amit Shah maafi maango” (Amit Shah, apologize). Demonstrations spilled over to the streets, with protests organized outside Raj Bhavans and other significant landmarks across several states.
Rahul Gandhi was quick to respond to Shah’s remarks, tweeting, “Those who believe in Manusmriti will naturally have a problem with Ambedkar ji. The BJP’s ideology has always been against the principles of equality and justice that Babasaheb stood for.” His statement alluded to the ideological rift between the Congress’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision of social justice and the BJP’s Hindutva-driven agenda, which critics argue is rooted in Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text criticized for its caste-based discrimination.
Kharge accused the BJP and RSS of consistently undermining Ambedkar’s contributions to Indian democracy. He remarked, “The insult Amit Shah has heaped upon Babasaheb in Parliament today is yet another reminder that the BJP and RSS have never respected the Constitution or the values of equality and justice it enshrines. They were against the Tricolour, the Ashoka Chakra, and the Constitution itself. They wanted Manusmriti in its place, and Babasaheb fought to ensure that would never happen. This is why they harbor such deep resentment towards him.”
Other Opposition leaders, including TMC’s Derek O’Brien and RJD’s Manoj Jha, joined the criticism, accusing Shah of violating parliamentary decorum and demanding strict disciplinary action. Derek O’Brien also filed a notice of breach of privilege against Shah in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that his comments disrespected Ambedkar and lowered the dignity of the House.
The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations as a “manufactured controversy” designed to distract from the Congress’s historical neglect of Ambedkar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Shah’s defense, accusing the Congress of hypocrisy and pointing out its failure to recognize Ambedkar’s contributions during his lifetime. “The Congress has a long history of sidelining Ambedkar. It was our government that honored him with memorials, Constitution Day, and programs to propagate his ideals. The Congress is now playing theatrics because it cannot digest the truth about its own dark past,” Modi said in a series of tweets.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju further attacked the Congress, highlighting the party’s role in defeating Ambedkar in the 1952 Lok Sabha elections and failing to award him the Bharat Ratna during his lifetime. “The Congress is shedding crocodile tears. Amit Shah was merely exposing their hypocrisy,” Rijiju said.
Amid the escalating war of words, political analysts have noted that the controversy is not just a clash of personalities but also reflects deeper ideological battles shaping contemporary Indian politics. Ambedkar, as a towering figure who championed the rights of Dalits and other marginalized communities, has become a symbol of progressive politics. His legacy is often invoked by political parties to connect with disadvantaged sections of society and reaffirm their commitment to social justice.
While the Congress has positioned itself as the guardian of Ambedkar’s vision, the BJP has sought to claim his legacy through initiatives such as the development of Ambedkar memorials, the observance of Constitution Day, and the promotion of his ideals. However, critics argue that these efforts are undermined by the BJP’s broader Hindutva agenda, which they claim perpetuates caste-based hierarchies and undermines the principles of equality and social justice enshrined in the Constitution.
As the controversy continues to unfold, protests and counter-protests are intensifying across the country. Civil society groups, Dalit organizations, and student unions have also joined the fray, organizing rallies and debates to highlight Ambedkar’s contributions and condemn attempts to politicize his legacy.
The episode underscores the enduring relevance of Ambedkar’s ideals in India’s socio-political landscape. It also highlights the contentious battle among political parties to appropriate his legacy, with both the BJP and Congress striving to position themselves as the true inheritors of Ambedkar’s vision. As the 2024 general elections approach, this controversy is likely to play a significant role in shaping political narratives, particularly among marginalized communities that hold Ambedkar in high regard.
