Lawyers in Kanpur protested against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that he made disrespectful remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. The protests came in the wake of intense political debates triggered by Shah’s speech in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, where he addressed Ambedkar and the Constitution.
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UP: Lawyers in Kanpur staged a protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of making disrespectful remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
The protests followed heated political debates that erupted after Shah’s speech in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, where he discussed Ambedkar and the Constitution.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy began when opposition parties, particularly the Congress, claimed that Amit Shah’s remarks insulted Dr. Ambedkar. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the opposition distorted Shah’s statements by circulating edited videos. The disagreement turned into a major political row, with protests erupting in Parliament and outside.
Several Members of Parliament (MPs) from the INDIA bloc staged a demonstration within the Parliament premises, demanding an apology from Amit Shah for what they termed an “insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
Amit Shah Accuses Congress of Distortion
Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended his statements and accused the Congress of deliberately twisting his words to mislead the public. Speaking at a press conference on December 18, Shah said,
“Since yesterday, Congress has been presenting the facts in distorted way and I condemn it… Congress is anti-BR Ambedkar, it is against reservation and the Constitution. Congress also insulted Veer Savarkar. By imposing an Emergency, they violated all Constitutional values.”
He further accused the Congress of being against Dr. Ambedkar, reservation policies, and constitutional values. Shah also criticized the Congress for their actions during the Emergency period, claiming that they violated constitutional principles.
PM Modi Defends Amit Shah’s Remarks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Shah’s defense, claiming that the Home Minister exposed the Congress’ “dark history” of disrespecting Dr. Ambedkar. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote,
“In Parliament, 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! Congress can try as they want but they can’t deny that the worst massacres against SC/ST Communities have happened under their regimes. For years, they sat in power but did nothing substantive to empower the SC and ST communities.”
He also listed Congress’ alleged wrongdoings towards Dr. Ambedkar:
“The list of the Congress’ sins towards Dr Ambedkar includes- Getting him defeated in elections not once but twice. Pandit Nehru campaigned against him making his loss a prestige issue. Denying him a Bharat Ratna. Denying his portrait, a place of pride in Parliament’s Central Hall.”
Mallikarjun Kharge Criticizes Shah’s Remarks
Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge strongly criticized Amit Shah’s remarks and demanded an apology.
Speaking at a press conference, Kharge also called on PM Modi to sack Shah from his ministerial position if he truly respected Dr. Ambedkar. He said,
“We demand that Amit Shah should apologize and if PM Modi has faith in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar then he should be sacked by midnight… He has no right to remain in the cabinet, he should be sacked only then people will remain silent, otherwise, people will protest. People are ready to sacrifice their lives for Dr BR Ambedkar.”
Kharge accused the BJP-led NDA government of not believing in the Constitution, saying,
“Yesterday, Amit Shah said something which is very condemnable. It is unfortunate that a Dalit, who should be worshipped, was insulted. I am forced to say that these people (BJP-led NDA government) don’t believe in the Constitution.”
He also commented on PM Modi’s tweets supporting Shah, stating,
“PM Modi made 6-7 tweets to defend Amit Shah. What was the need for this? If someone says wrong about BR Ambedkar, he should be removed from the cabinet. But they are friends and are supporting each other’s sins.”
Prakash Ambedkar Weighs In
Babasaheb Ambedkar’s grandson, Prakash Ambedkar, also criticized Amit Shah’s remarks.
He alleged that Shah’s statements reflected the BJP’s “same old mentality” towards Dr. Ambedkar and his legacy.
Protests Continue
The protests in Kanpur by lawyers and across the country by various groups signify the deep-rooted reverence for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the sensitivity surrounding his legacy. As political tensions rise, both sides continue to present their narratives, keeping the debate alive in the public sphere.
This controversy underscores the ongoing struggle over the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and the broader issues of social justice, representation, and constitutional values in India.
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