Remarks on Ambedkar show ‘arrogance’ of BJP, says Uddhav Thackeray; ‘PM Modi must take action against Amit Shah or quit’

“For the last two-three years, the BJP has been constantly insulting Maharashtra’s revered figures and icons. First, former Maharashtra governor (Bhagat Singh) Koshyari insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Savitribai Phule, then the BJP indulged in corruption while building a statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan which collapsed within eight months. Now they dare to even insult Ambedkar,” Uddhav said during a press conference at Matoshree.

“Yesterday, Amit Shah said that taking the name of “Ambedkar has become a fashion”! By saying this, the BJP’s burqa has been torn and their real face revealed. Earlier, they used to speak against Nehru now they have the audacity to insult even Ambedkar who is a national hero,” Uddhav said, further questioning if National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders like Ramdas Athawale, Nitish Kumar, and Naidu would still be with the BJP.

“Will the NDA allies speak about it now? Will the RSS ask Amit Shah to clarify? Currently, a debate on the Constitution is underway and Ambedkar has been insulted. The RSS must have told Amit Shah to say this. Shah wouldn’t do so on his own. Modi should act against Amit Shah for his remarks on Dr Ambedkar and he should quit if he is not able to do so,” Uddhav lashed out.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Amit Shah had said about the Opposition, “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.” The remarks triggered protests from several leaders of the INDIA bloc.

Uddhav alleged that the BJP was trying to erase Dr Ambedkar’s name but it won’t happen and the party itself will perish in its attempts to do so.

When asked about PM Modi’s statement that the Congress insulted Ambedkar, Uddhav asked, “If others eat garbage will you too eat it?” and sought to bring the discussion back to Shah’s comments against Ambedkar.

The BJP’s Hindutva is “deceptive”, Uddhav Thackeray said, adding that their Hindutva is only to divide and rule. “They are only involved in ‘satta jihad (power jihad)’. They want to finish Maharashtra. They want to show no one existed before the BJP came to power,” he said.