Union Home Minister Amit Shah fiercely criticized the Congress during a press conference in Delhi, accusing the opposition party of misrepresenting his remarks made in Parliament and taking an anti-Ambedkar stance. Shah responded to the controversy sparked by his statements in the Rajya Sabha during a debate on the Constitution, where he claimed his words were distorted by Congress.
“My statements were misrepresented. Congress spreads fake news. I can never speak against Ambedkar ji,” Amit Shah clarified. He further urged the public to listen to his full remarks to understand his intent, stressing, “I come from a party and society that can never insult Dr. Ambedkar, even in our dreams.”
The controversy stemmed from Shah's remark in Parliament on Tuesday, where he had said, “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... If they had taken God's name as many times, they would have got a place in heaven.” This sparked an immediate backlash from opposition MPs, leading to a protest on Parliament grounds. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Shah's resignation, calling for an apology and his removal from the Cabinet, accusing him of insulting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
In response, Shah countered Congress' criticism, claiming the party has a history of disrespecting Ambedkar and constitutional values. He pointed out that the Congress government never built a memorial for Ambedkar, while BJP governments have developed several sites associated with him. Shah also highlighted that it was under the Modi government that Constitution Day was established to honor Ambedkar's legacy.
Amit Shah further accused Congress of undermining the Constitution, citing the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government as an example of their disregard for democratic values. He argued that the BJP has consistently worked to protect the Constitution, unlike Congress, which he claimed has been anti-Ambedkar, anti-reservation, and anti-Constitution.