Parliament proceedings were disrupted on Wednesday as the Congress staged a massive protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on Dr. BR Ambedkar during a speech in the Rajya Sabha. Demanding Shah’s resignation and a public apology, the Congress accused the BJP of disrespecting the Dalit icon, while the BJP hit back, accusing the opposition of resorting to "cheap tricks" for political gain.

Inside Parliament, Congress and opposition MPs held up photos of Ambedkar, chanted slogans like "Jai Bhim" and "Amit Shah maafi maango," and demanded accountability. The protests extended to state-level demonstrations as Congress leaders gathered outside Raj Bhavans with placards, intensifying the political standoff.

Opposition Slams Amit Shah Over ‘Insulting’ Remark
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Shah’s statement, accusing him of belittling the legacy of the architect of India’s Constitution. Kharge alleged that Shah’s remarks implied that invoking Ambedkar’s name was wrong.

"When Amit Shah was speaking about Babasaheb, he said, 'If you took God's name as many times as you take Ambedkar's name, you would have got a place in heaven.' This implies that taking Ambedkar's name is a sin. I raised my hand to respond, but I was denied the opportunity to speak," said Kharge, also a Rajya Sabha MP.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a sharp critique, linked Shah’s remarks to the BJP’s alleged adherence to Manusmriti. "Those who follow Manusmriti will naturally oppose Ambedkar," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister, also condemned Shah’s statement, calling it a sign of arrogance. "See how Amit Shah mocks Babasaheb Ambedkar in Parliament. Ambedkar is no less than God. If not for his Constitution, the oppressed, poor, and Dalits would not have been allowed to live on this Earth," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

BJP Defends Amit Shah, Criticizes Congress
The BJP dismissed the Congress’s protests as theatrics, with Shah clarifying that his statement was aimed at highlighting Congress’s shallow attempts to appropriate Ambedkar's legacy.

"Today, it has become a fashion for the Congress to repeatedly invoke Ambedkar’s name. If they had taken God’s name as often, they would have earned a place in heaven," Shah said in his Rajya Sabha address, taking a jab at the opposition party.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju came to Shah’s defense, accusing the Congress of historical hypocrisy when it came to Ambedkar. Rijiju pointed out that the Congress failed to award Ambedkar the Bharat Ratna and conspired to defeat him in the 1952 elections. "Amit Shah clearly showed our respect for Babasaheb in his speech. The Congress, on the other hand, humiliated him repeatedly," Rijiju said.

The row has sparked a political slugfest, with both sides doubling down on their narratives in a bid to appeal to marginalized communities and shape public perception.