Cashing in on the opportunity to slam Right-wing leaders, Prakash Ambedkar, the president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Friday said derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi by Sambhaji Bhide is an outcome of the political patronage he has enjoyed from the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). On Thursday, Bhide addressed a public meeting at Bharat Mangal Hall in Badnera in the Amravati district in Maharashtra while on a tour of the Vidarbha region. During his address, Bhide reportedly said, “It is said that Mahatma Gandhi's name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but Karamchand Gandhi was not Mahatma Gandhi's father. A Muslim landlord was his real father." He also said, “Karamchand, while he was working for a Muslim landlord, had defrauded the man of money and ran away. The Muslim landlord in anger had then forcefully brought Karamchand's wife to his own home.” Bhide’s comments attracted a police complaint filed by state Congress secretary Nandkishore Kuyate. Speaking to The Indian Express, Ambedkar opined that Bhide, the founder of the Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan, is carrying forward the Right-wing agenda in many ways. He said, "What else does one expect from Bhide? He is pursuing the hidden agenda of Right-wing politics which is to wipe out the (memories of the) freedom movement and its leaders.” He added, “After all, the RSS and its related outfits had no role in the country's independence and now they want to replace the freedom movement heroes with their ideologues. It is a systematic attempt which is being carried out." According to Ambedkar, "Mahatma Gandhi is already revered in India as the Father of Nation. He has earned world recognition for his non-violent movement. By attacking Mahatma Gandhi, the Right-wing leaders cannot dent his image. The more they attack Mahatma Gandhi, the more people will stand in solidarity." He added, “In the end, the RSS and the BJP and all other Right-wing outfits will lose ground. They will expose themselves." In a candid admission, the VBA president said Bhide has always got away because the ruling mainstream parties don't take any action against him or his outfit. “During the Bhima Koregaon riots, the police had pointed at the role of Bhide and Milind Ekbote. But the then government led by the BJP did not act. Even Congress and the NCP let him off scot-free,” Ambedkar said. He added, "In a progressive state like Maharashtra, Right-wing activists making highly insulting remarks about greater reformers and freedom fighters are walking freely. It is a part of the agenda of the Right-wing leaders to undermine Dr B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule and others.”
