Amit Shah’s ‘Ambedkar is Fashion’ Remark Sparks Fierce Political Battle
Home Minister Amit Shah found himself at the centre of a storm of criticism from the Congress party after making a controversial comment about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament. Shah had joked that “Ambedkar is the fashion” during a debate on the Constitution, which sparked outrage, particularly among Congress leaders, who accused him of disrespecting Ambedkar’s legacy.
Amit Shah fiercely defended himself in response, accusing his rivals of being “anti-Ambedkar” and “anti-Constitution.” He claimed that Congress had “distorted the facts” and misrepresented his words, suggesting they had edited speeches made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and him. He also pointed out that the Congress had previously disrespected Ambedkar, especially during its time in power.
Shah’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha about how frequently the opposition invokes Ambedkar’s name were meant to be sarcastic, but this only angered Congress leaders further. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called for Shah’s resignation, and other leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi demanded an apology. Kharge accused Shah and the Prime Minister of dishonouring Ambedkar and suggested that the PM drop Shah from the Cabinet if he genuinely respected Ambedkar.
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Prime Minister Modi stood firm in defence of Shah, criticising Congress for spreading “malicious lies” and insulting Dr Ambedkar’s legacy. He stated that the Congress party, led by one family, had tried to erase Ambedkar’s contributions to the country.
Apart from Congress, other political parties like the Samajwadi Party and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress also condemned Shah’s remarks. Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party suggested that the BJP felt threatened by the Dalit struggle and had made such comments out of nervousness. Trinamool Congress accused Shah of displaying a “casteist” and “anti-Dalit” mindset.
In the middle of this uproar, Shah and Modi met with Gandhi and Kharge to discuss the appointment of the following National Human Rights Commission chief. However, sources clarified that this meeting was unrelated to the Ambedkar controversy.
This heated exchange reflects ongoing tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition, particularly over Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and the political messaging surrounding his name.
