What is the furore over Shah-Ambedkar in Parliament?

Dalit leader and Father of the Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar helped the opposition parties unite in the Parliament.

A majority of the Opposition parties came together and protested against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks against Dalit leader and Father of the Constitution BR Ambedkar on Thursday.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi led the protest of INDIA bloc MPs in the Parliament and demanded sacking Shah for his remarks on Ambedkar in the House.

He walked up to the SP MPs, who were also staging a separate protest with red caps, and shook hands with them. Soon the two protests merged.

The Trinamool Congress also backed Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader and Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar, and posted on his tweets against Amit Shah, and posted a tweet on one of its WhatsApp groups.

However Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal wrote to the TDP and JD(U) chiefs that the public would not like to rally behind those who cannot revere Bababsaheb, indicating that the party would not support the BJP.

What did Shah say?

Amit Shah faced widespread condemnation for his statement in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Shah said: “It has become a fashion now to say ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. Had you taken God’s name so many times, you would have got a place in heaven.”

Soon the video clip became viral on social media and Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped in to defend Shah, with a few posts on X. Modi said: “The Home Minister had exposed the Congress’ dark history of insulting Dr Ambedkar and ignoring the SC/ST communities.”

Following the remarks, opposition members held protests demanding public apology. Both the Houses were adjourned as there was huge uproar over Shah’s remarks.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday, even demanded Shah’s resignation. He said: “If Modi respected Ambedkar, Shah should be dismissed by midnight.”

In response to Kharge’s demand for his resignation, Shah said even if he were to resign, the Congress president will have to remain in the Opposition for the next 15 years.

After Adani and EVM issues, the Opposition leaders have now found another to get together and corner the ruling party.