Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to accusations from the Opposition that Home Minister Amit Shah insulted Dalit icon Dr. BR Ambedkar, accused the Congress of attempting to erase Ambedkar’s legacy and mistreating Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. In a detailed six-point post on X, formerly Twitter, the Prime Minister said the Congress and its “ecosystem” have historically undermined Ambedkar’s contributions and are now spreading “malicious lies” to cover up their own misdeeds.

“If the Congress and its rotten ecosystem think their malicious lies can hide their misdeeds of several years, especially their insult towards Dr. Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken,” the Prime Minister wrote. He added that the people of India have repeatedly witnessed how a single-party system, led by one dynasty, tried every tactic to diminish Ambedkar’s legacy and suppress SC/ST communities.

The Prime Minister’s remarks follow a massive Congress-led Opposition protest in response to statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah during a Constitution Day debate in the Rajya Sabha. Shah had remarked that invoking Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion,” emphasizing that true respect for Ambedkar is reflected in actions, not merely words. He also criticized the Nehru-led government for sidelining Ambedkar, which eventually led to his resignation from the first Cabinet.

Opposition parties, however, interpreted Shah’s comments as an insult to Ambedkar and staged protests inside and outside Parliament. Holding pictures of Ambedkar, MPs demanded Shah’s resignation, accusing him of disrespecting the architect of the Constitution. BJP leaders, in turn, alleged that the Congress had circulated an incomplete video clip of Shah’s remarks to distort his message.

Seeking to counter the Opposition’s narrative, Prime Minister Modi outlined several instances where Congress allegedly humiliated Ambedkar. “The Congress got Dr. Ambedkar defeated in elections not once, but twice, with Pandit Nehru personally campaigning against him and making his defeat a prestige issue. They denied him a Bharat Ratna, and his portrait was not given a place of honor in Parliament’s Central Hall,” Modi said. He also accused Congress regimes of presiding over the worst atrocities against SC/ST communities.

The BJP swiftly mobilized its top leaders to respond to the controversy, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserting that the BJP, under Modi’s leadership, had honored Ambedkar’s legacy and preserved his contributions. Singh said Shah’s remarks exposed Congress’s history of disrespecting Ambedkar, a truth the Opposition was now trying to obscure with political theatrics.

The BJP also shared old photographs of Modi paying tributes to Ambedkar through an X account named "Modi Archive," highlighting the Prime Minister's long-standing admiration for the Dalit icon. Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to fulfilling Ambedkar’s vision and promoting the welfare of marginalized communities.

On the other hand, Congress leaders intensified their attack on the BJP. Rahul Gandhi, in a veiled criticism of Shah, said, “Those following Manusmriti would naturally be troubled by Ambedkar.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP and its ideological parent RSS of opposing Ambedkar’s ideals, claiming they preferred Manusmriti over the Constitution. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the protest, sharing photos of the Opposition’s demonstrations and hailing Ambedkar as a symbol of dignity and self-respect for Dalits and marginalized communities.

As the political battle continues, both sides are doubling down on their narratives to sway public perception, particularly among backward communities.