Trinamool Files Notice Against Shah’s Ambedkar Remark

by The_unmuteenglish

New Delhi, 18 December 2024 – Amid a growing controversy over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, the Trinamool Congress has filed a privilege notice against him, accusing him of undermining the legacy of the Constitution’s architect and disrespecting Parliament’s dignity. Derek O’Brien, the leader of the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha, lodged the notice under Rule 187. This move comes as Opposition parties intensify their criticism of Mr. Shah for his remarks during a debate in the Upper House marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution.

In his speech, Mr. Shah claimed that mentioning Ambedkar had become a “fashion” for Opposition leaders. “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If they took God’s name so many times, they would have gotten a place in heaven,” he said. He continued, questioning the Opposition’s sentiments towards Ambedkar while discussing the Dalit leader’s resignation from the first Cabinet due to differences with Jawaharlal Nehru’s government.

The remarks quickly sparked outrage, with leaders from Congress and other Opposition parties accusing Mr. Shah of insulting Ambedkar. In response, Opposition MPs staged protests in Parliament, holding photos of Ambedkar. They also demanded Mr. Shah’s resignation. Meanwhile, BJP leaders criticized the Congress for circulating a selectively edited video clip that omitted Mr. Shah’s remarks about the Congress allegedly sidelining Ambedkar, and BJP leaders countered the Opposition’s demands for resignation.

As the Opposition parties mounted pressure on the ruling government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Mr. Shah’s defense. In a six-point post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister accused the Congress and its allies of trying to cover up their historical disrespect for Ambedkar. “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 every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and humiliate the SC/ST communities,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister also listed several allegations against the Congress, including attempts to defeat Ambedkar in elections, campaigning against him, and denying him a Bharat Ratna. He further claimed that the Congress had undermined Ambedkar by not providing a place for his portrait in Parliament’s Central Hall.

Reacting to Mr. Shah’s comments, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized the Home Minister, accusing him of tarnishing the Constitution’s anniversary with “derogatory remarks.” In a post on X, she stated, “This is a display of BJP’s casteist and anti-Dalit mindset… They would have rewritten history to entirely erase Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions.”

Ms. Banerjee also expressed concern that the BJP’s mindset reflected hate and bigotry, targeting not just Ambedkar but also members of the Constitution’s Drafting Committee. “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is the Father of the Constitution; this outrageous remark is not only an outright attack on him but all members of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution, which symbolized India’s unity in diversity with members from all castes, creeds, ethnicities, and religions,” she added.

The debate is expected to continue, with the Opposition pressing for an apology and Mr. Shah’s resignation, while the BJP maintains its defense of the Home Minister’s statements.

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