PM Modi: ‘Congress gravely mistaken if it thinks its rotten ecosystem and malicious lies can hide its misdeeds’

Modi, in a series of posts on X, said: “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..”.

The PM also listed out the “Congress’ sins” towards Ambedkar. “The list of the Congress’ sins towards Dr. Ambedkar includes: Getting him defeated in elections not once but twice. Pandit Nehru campaigning against him and making his loss a prestige issue. Denying him a Bharat Ratna. Denying his portrait a place of pride in Parliament’s Central Hall,” he said.

Claiming that the worst massacres against the SC and ST communities have happened under Congress regimes, Modi said the grand old party did nothing substantive to empower the SC and ST communities.

Union Ministers Amit Shah, J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju at the BJP office in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

Modi also heaped praises on Ambedkar saying, “It is due to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that we are what we are! Our Government has worked tirelessly to fulfil the vision of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar over the last decade. Take any sector – be it removing 25 crore people from poverty, strengthening the SC/ST Act, our Government’s flagship programmes like Swachh Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujjwala Yojana and more, each of them has touched the lives of the poor and marginalised,” he said.

Modi said when it comes to Ambedkar, “our respect and reverence is absolute”. “Our government has worked towards developing Panchteerth, the five iconic places associated with Ambedkar. For decades, there was a pending issue on land for Chaitya Bhoomi. Not only did our Government resolve the issue, I have gone to pray there as well. We have also developed 26, Alipur Road in Delhi, where Dr. Ambedkar spent his last years. The house where he lived in London has also been acquired by the Government,”

In the Rajya Sabha, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said he is a practising Buddhist and had always followed Ambedkar’s path. “Seventy-one years after Ambedkar resigned as Law minister, PM Modi made another Buddhist the Law Minister,” he said.

Earlier, the Opposition protested in Parliament and outside it against Shah’s speech, where he had said it was a new fashion these days of chanting the name of Ambedkar.

“There is a fashion these days – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… Had you chanted the name of God these many times, you would have been blessed with heaven in seven births. We are happy that Ambedkar’s name is being taken,” Shah had said before listing out the Congress’ “injustices” towards him.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders upped the ante against the BJP saying those believing in Manu Smriti will have problems with Ambedkar. Late on Tuesday night, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, “Those who believe in the Manu Smriti will surely have problems with Ambedkar ji.”

Congress leader KC Venugopal echoed Rahul’s views. “Dr. Ambedkar is equivalent to God and the Constitution he drafted is a Holy Book for crores of people across the world”. “How dare you speak about Dr. Ambedkar with such disdain? The BJP’s disgust towards Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was always well known, and the Home Minister’s pathetic statements in the Rajya Sabha today further confirm how much they hate and detest Dr. Ambedkar.”

On Wednesday, Opposition members protested outside Parliament with photographs of Ambedkar in their hands, shouting the slogans, “Amit Shah Maafi Maango. Babasaheb Ka Apmaan, Nahin Sahega Hindustan (Amit Shah, apologise. Babasaheb’s insult will not be tolerated).” Congress MP K Suresh gave a notice for adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss Shah’s remarks and also demanded an apology from the Union Home Minister.

Congress’ Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also weighed in on the issue. “One gets rights by taking the name of Ambedkar ji. Taking the name of Ambedkar ji is a symbol of human dignity. Ambedkar ji’s name is a symbol of self-respect of crores of Dalits and deprived people, she said in a post on X

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on social media, said: “BJP-RSS and their political ancestors stood for Manusmriti and against the Constitution of India. They opposed the National Flag — Tiranga and they opposed Ashok Chakra. They burnt the copies of the Constitution at Ramleela Maidan. When their ploy of “400 Paar” and changing the Constitution of India was foiled by the people of India, in frustration, they are now insulting Babasaheb and his glorious contribution. INDIA will resist this onslaught on Babasaheb’s legacy, Parliamentary Democracy and our Constitution. Home Minister Amit Shah must apologise to the Nation for demeaning Babasaheb.”

TMC president and West Bengal CM also joined the chorus against the BJP. “HM Amit Shah’s remarks are an insult to the millions who look up to Babasaheb for guidance and inspiration. But what else can you expect from a party that has internalised HATE and BIGOTRY? 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 symbolised India’s unity in diversity with members from all castes, creeds, ethnicities, and religions,” she said in a post on X.