Union Home Minister Amit Shah controversially remarked, "these days it has become a fashion to chant Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If people took God's name like this, they'd reach heaven in seven lifetimes."
Published Dec 18, 2024 | 6:26 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2024 | 6:26 PM
Udhayanidhi Stalin and TVK's Vijay join forces to slam Amit Shah over Ambedkar remarks
Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu’s Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister, and Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), came together to strongly denounce Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks about Dr BR Ambedkar. Shah’s comments, where he mocked frequent references to Dr. Ambedkar by saying, “Ambedkar, Ambedkar, they keep chanting for everything,” have sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu.
Udhayanidhi Stalin took to social media platform X to express his dismay and anger over Shah’s remarks. In his post, he wrote:
“We strongly condemn Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s derogatory remarks, where he allegedly said, ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, they keep chanting for everything.’ Instead of playing the role of a tourist guide, advising where and how people should go, Amit Shah should focus on properly fulfilling his responsibilities as the Home Minister. The fascists, who are bent on destroying the Constitution given by Dr. Ambedkar, seem irritated even by the mere mention of his name. If that’s the case, we will proudly and loudly proclaim Dr. Ambedkar’s name a hundred times more! Long live Ambedkar! May his glory continue to rise!”
“எதெற்கெடுத்தாலும் அம்பேத்கர்.. அம்பேத்கர்.. என்று சொல்கிறார்கள்” என ஒன்றிய உள்துறை அமைச்சர் அமித்ஷா அவதூறாக பேசியிருப்பதை வன்மையாக கண்டிக்கிறோம்.
எப்படி எங்கே செல்லலாம் என டூரிஸ்ட் கைடு வேலை பார்ப்பதற்கு பதிலாக, உள்துறை அமைச்சர் பொறுப்பை அமித்ஷா முதலில் சரிவர கவனிக்கட்டும்.…
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) December 18, 2024
Echoing Udhayanidhi’s sentiments, TVK leader Vijay also issued a scathing statement condemning Amit Shah’s remarks. Vijay, known for his steadfast commitment to social justice causes, stated:
“While some may feel uneasy hearing Dr. Ambedkar’s name, to the people of India who breathe the air of freedom, he remains an unparalleled political and intellectual giant, revered and held in the highest regard. Ambedkar… Ambedkar… Ambedkar… We will continue to proudly and joyfully utter his name from our hearts and lips. We will never tolerate any disrespect towards our ideological leader. On behalf of the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam, I strongly condemn the Union Home Minister for his derogatory remarks against Dr. Ambedkar.”
யாரோ சிலருக்கு வேண்டுமானால் அம்பேத்கர் பெயர் ஒவ்வாமையாக இருக்கலாம். சுதந்திரக் காற்றை சுவாசிக்கும் இந்திய மக்கள் அனைவருக்கும் அவர்கள் உயரத்தில் வைத்துப் போற்றும் ஒப்பற்ற அரசியல் மற்றும் அறிவுலக ஆளுமை, அவர்.
அம்பேத்கர்…
அம்பேத்கர்… அம்பேத்கர்…
அவர் பெயரை
உள்ளமும் உதடுகளும்…— TVK Vijay (@tvkvijayhq) December 18, 2024
During a recent Rajya Sabha session, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a controversial remark regarding the frequent invocation of Dr. BR Ambedkar’s name. He stated:
“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,” as stated in a report.
This translates to: “It has become a fashion now to say ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar.’ Had you taken God’s name so many times, you would have secured a place in heaven for seven lifetimes.”
The comment has been widely criticised as trivialising the reverence for Dr. Ambedkar, who is celebrated as the architect of the Indian Constitution and a pioneering advocate for social justice.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was quick to condemn Shah’s statement, viewing it as an affront to Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and the Constitution itself. Kharge demanded a formal apology from both Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding them accountable for what he deemed to be a disrespectful comment.
The incident has ignited a wave of criticism, especially in Tamil Nadu, where Dr. Ambedkar is held in high esteem and his ideals are deeply ingrained in the state’s socio-political framework.
Annamalai reposts Prime Minister Modi’s tweet, highlighting the Congress party’s continued attempts to conceal their past misdeeds, especially their alleged insults toward Dr. Ambedkar. He asserts that the Congress and its ecosystem are gravely mistaken if they think malicious lies can erase their actions over the years, particularly the supposed marginalization of Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and the SC/ST communities.
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…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2024
Political analyst Raveendran Duraiswamy responds, emphasising that Dr. Ambedkar is widely respected across India. He adds that Tamil Nadu leaders might be misinterpreting the situation, as there have been no derogatory remarks. Duraiswamy notes that six years ago, Prime Minister Modi himself acknowledged that he became the Prime Minister because of Dr. Ambedkar, and it’s clear that Congress-led parties have continued to stand against this legacy.
BJP State President Annamalai highlighted that Amit Shah criticised Congress for insulting Ambedkar and pointed out how BJP has transformed the places Ambedkar lived into spaces for its people. He also mentioned Shah’s remark about Udhayanidhi’s lack of Hindi knowledge, emphasising that BJP has never acted against Ambedkar, unlike Congress.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
