wjevo Modi Defends Shah's Controversial Ambedkar Remark; Siddaramaiah Hits Back With Open Letter
Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha at the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.Photo: PTI Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha at the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.Photo: PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come in defense of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, following a political storm that erupted in the Indian Parliament on Wednesday, on Shah's remarks on Dr B R Ambedkar. Meanwhilewjevo, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has written an open letter to Shah in this matter.
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Shah, during a speech in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, remarked, “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.”
This statement quickly ignited outrage, particularly among leaders of the Congress and other members of the INDIA bloc, who accused him of belittling the legacy of Dr Ambedkar.
ALSO READ|Parliament Session: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Adjourned Amid Chaos Over ONOE Bill, Remarks Over BR Ambedkar
PM Modi defends Amit Shah and criticizes CongressPrime Minister Narendra Modi joined the defense of his cabinet colleague, hitting out at the Congress party in a scathing post on social media. “In Parliament, HM Amit Shah Ji exposed the Congress’ dark history of insulting Dr. Ambedkar and ignoring the SC/ST Communities. 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!,” he wrote on X.
Modi accused the Congress of trying to hide its “misdeeds” with “malicious lies” and dismissed the allegations against Shah as an attempt to tarnish the BJP’s record.
“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!” Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The Prime Minister went on to list several alleged wrongdoings of the Congress towards Ambedkar, including getting him defeated in elections not once but twice; Pandit Nehru campaigning against him and making his loss a prestige issue; denying him a Bharat Ratna; denying his portrait a place of pride in Parliament’s Central Hall.
Modi also reminded the public of the Congress party’s historical treatment of Dalit communities, accusing them of perpetuating atrocities against the SC/ST population during their tenure.
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 people of India have seen time and again how one Party, led by one dynasty, has indulged in…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2024 Siddaramaiah writes an open letter to Amit ShahKarnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written an open letter to Amit Shah on X, condemning his remarks on Ambedkar. In his letter, he expressed disbelief at Shah's comments and accused him of revealing the true mindset of the BJP towards Ambedkar.
He wrote: First, let me congratulate you for finally speaking the truth by openly revealing the BJP's real opinion about Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar….Standing in the very Parliament that runs under his Constitution and calling his memory a "habit" shows your arrogance. Congratulations, Mr. Shah, for this shameless act!
best online casino real money no depositSiddaramaiah further took Shah to task, demanding he own up to his words instead of trying to downplay them. “Do not attempt to mislead the nation by saying, ‘I have immense respect for Babasaheb, and my words were twisted.’ We are not gullible. Own up to your words and face the nation.”
The Chief Minister also pointed out the impact of Ambedkar’s work on the lives of millions, including his own. He remarked, “Had Dr Ambedkar not been born, I wouldn’t have had the privilege of becoming the Chief Minister today...We owe every step of our progress and dignity to Babasaheb and the Constitution he gave us.”
Open Letter to Union Home Minister Amit ShahShri Amit Shah avare,First, let me congratulate you for finally speaking the truth by openly revealing the BJP's real opinion about Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Your statement in Parliament (18-12-2024) didn’t surprise us; we already… pic.twitter.com/zjxDHEugwb
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 18, 2024He also called out the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP, for historically rejecting the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar. “Your hatred for Ambedkar is not new to those who know history. Why did your ideological parent, the RSS, reject the Constitution written by Babasaheb during his lifetime? Historical records document the statements of RSS leaders like Hedgewar, Golwalkar, and Savarkar against the Constitution. You may try to suppress these truths, but they cannot be erased. Your remarks in Parliament are just an extension of that long-standing RSS ideology,” he further wrote.
Siddaramaiah went on to criticize Shah’s tone and wrote, “Let me respond in your tone. Your party and its ideological family have now developed a fashion to chant ‘Modi... Modi... Modi’ If only you had invoked the name of God as many times as you chant Modi’s name, you might have secured a place in heaven—not just for seven lifetimes, but for a hundred. Perhaps even your sins, committed solely for clinging to power, might have been forgiven.”
Mamata Banerjee criticizes Amit Shah's remarksWest Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also come down on Amit Shah over his remarks on Ambedkar. Criticizing the Union Home Minister, the TMC leader wrote on X: “This is a display of BJP’s CASTEIST and ANTI-DALIT mindset. If this is how they behave after being reduced to 240 seats, imagine the damage they would’ve inflicted if their dream of 400 seats had been realized.”
The mask has fallen!As Parliament reflects on 75 glorious years of the Constitution, HM @AmitShah chose to TARNISH this occasion with DEROGATORY remarks against Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, that too in the temple of Democracy.This is a display of BJP’s CASTEIST and ANTI-DALIT…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 18, 2024Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien, during the winter session of the Parliament, moved a privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah due to the remarks issued by the BJP leader regarding Dr BR Ambedkar.
The notice was issued under Rule 187. Before O'Brien, Congress MP Manickam Tagore had submitted an adjournment notice against Amit Shah.
ALSO READ|Congress MP Manickam Tagore Submits Adjournment Motion Notice Against Amit Shah's Remarks On Ambedkar
‘Amit Shah Maafi Maango,’ Congress demands apology
While Shah and Modi stand firm in their defense, the Opposition continues to rally behind Ambedkar’s legacy, with the issue now poised to play a significant role in ongoing political discourse, especially ahead of upcoming elections.
The Congress-led Opposition is demanding an apology and accusing the BJP of diminishing Ambedkar's contributions. Several MPs from the INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhiwjevo, staged a protest in Parliament, calling for Shah’s apology and raising slogans like “Jai Bhim” and “Amit Shah maafi maango.”