The Opposition raised slogans against the minister, leading to the adjournment of both houses till 2 PM, they also protested outside the parliament with Ambedkar's portraits.
Published Dec 18, 2024 | 1:25 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2024 | 1:25 PM
Amit Shah in Parliament. (Screengrab)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, 18 December, wrote an open letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in response to the latter’s remarks in the Parliament about Dr BR Amdebkar.
In the missive, Siddaramaiah credited Ambedkar for his, Mallikarjun Kharge’s and also Prime Minister Modi’s political careers. He further claimed that Ambedkar was not a “fashion” as stated by the home minister but an eternal inspiration for the many whose lives he had changed.
Criticism Amit Shah, Siddaramaiah wrote, “Your statement in Parliament (18-12-2024) didn’t surprise us; we already knew your party’s true mindset. But now, the entire country has seen your lack of respect for the architect of the Indian Constitution. Standing in the very Parliament that runs under his Constitution and calling his memory a “habit” shows your arrogance. Congratulations, Mr Shah, for this shameless act!”
He added, “Do not attempt to mislead the nation by saying, ‘I have immense respect for Babasaheb, and my words were twisted.’ We are not gullible. Own up to your words and face the nation.”
Siddaramaiha said if anyone tries to diminish the memory of Ambedkar, the same will guide his followers to rise stronger.
“For us, Ambedkar is not a ‘fashion’ but an eternal inspiration. As long as we breathe, as long as the Sun and Moon shine on this Earth, Ambedkar’s legacy will endure. The more you try to diminish his memory, the stronger it will rise to guide us forward. While your sycophants might have clapped at your arrogance, remember this: millions across this country, who have gained equality and dignity because of Babasaheb, are condemning you,” he said.
“Had Dr Ambedkar not been born, I wouldn’t have had the privilege of becoming the chief minister today — I might have been herding cattle in my village. Our senior leader, Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, wouldn’t have risen to lead the AICC; he might have been working in a factory in Kalaburagi. We owe every step of our progress and dignity to Babasaheb and the Constitution he gave us.”
“Not just me — without Ambedkar’s contributions, you too wouldn’t be the home minister today. Instead, you might have been running a scrap business in your hometown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, your colleague, might still be selling tea at a railway station. Babasaheb’s vision is what elevated us all. Even the Prime Minister might admit this, and so should you,” he added.
Addressing the House during the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution, Shah said taking BR Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion” now.
“Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they took God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven),” he said.
The home minister further added, “Take his name 100 times more, but I want to say what are your sentiments about him.” He said BR Ambedkar had to resign from the first Cabinet following his disagreement with the Jawaharlal Nehru-led government.
The Opposition raised slogans against the minister, leading to the adjournment of both houses till 2 PM, they also protested outside the parliament with Ambedkar’s portraits, raising slogans such as “Amit Shah maafi maango, nahi sahega Hindustan, Ambedkar ka apmaan. (Amit Shah should apologise, India won’t tolerate Ambedkar’s humiliation.)”
Demanding Amit Shah’s apology and resignation, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “He humiliated Babasaheb Ambedkar and the constitution by saying so. Their ideology based on RSS and Manusmriti shows he doesn’t want to respect Ambedkar.”
We demand Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation.
बाबासाहेब डॉ आंबेडकर जी का अपमान,
नहीं सहेगा हिन्दुस्तान ! pic.twitter.com/jqiNajLOrc— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2024
Siddaramiah in his letter further claimed, “Your hatred for Ambedkar is not new to those who know history. Why did your ideological parent, the RSS, reject the Constitution written by Babasaheb during his lifetime? Historical records document the statements of RSS leaders like Hedgewar, Golwalkar, and Savarkar against the Constitution. You may try to suppress these truths, but they cannot be erased. Your remarks in Parliament are just an extension of that long-standing RSS ideology.”
“Let me respond in your tone. Your party and its ideological family have now developed a fashion to chant “Modi… Modi… Modi.” If only you had invoked the name of God as many times as you chant Modi’s name, you might have secured a place in heaven—not just for seven lifetimes, but for a hundred. Perhaps even your sins, committed solely for clinging to power, might have been forgiven,” he further suggested.
Congress MP B Manickam Tagore also condemned Amit Shah. He wrote on X, “Mr Shah, as a self-proclaimed Savarkar bhakt, do you stand for his divisive ideology or for Dr Ambedkar’s vision of equality and justice? Crores of Dalits, Adivasis,& Backwards revere Ambedkar for liberating us from the oppressive Varna system. Jai Bhim is not just a slogan, it’s a war cry against social and economic injustice. How dare you insult the architect of our Constitution? The people of this nation will never forgive such betrayal.”
Mr. Shah, as a self-proclaimed Savarkar bhakt, do you stand for his divisive ideology or for Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of equality and justice? Crores of Dalits, Adivasis,& Backwards revere Ambedkar for liberating us from the oppressive Varna system. Jai Bhim is not just a slogan 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Jtqn8b1xkJ
— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) December 18, 2024
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
