NewDelhi: Top-level discussions are currently taking place within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in response to a stir caused by Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments during a debate about the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha Assembly Hall. A preliminary gathering was attended by Shah along with BJP President JP Nadda and various other ministers before Shah proceeded to have talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his office in Parliament House.
Insiders indicate that the gathering will focus on planning a reaction to the backlash from the opposition regarding Shah’s remarks that were supposedly misunderstood and misrepresented in relation to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
During his speech in the Rajya Sabha debate on the Constitution on Tuesday (17 December), Shah strongly criticized the Congress party by suggesting that they are now emphasizing Ambedkar’s name excessively and questioned their intentions behind it by comparing it to chanting God’s name to gain entry into heaven. He also raised doubts about the Congress party’s motives for invoking Ambedkar’s name. Emphasized that the public can see through their intentions clearly.
The Congress party criticized Shah’s comments as disrespectful towards both Ambedkar and the Dalit community. Prominent Congress figures like Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi called for Shah’s resignation, claiming that his statements were offensive and not fitting for a home minister. Gandhi highlighted similarities between Shah’s remarks and the beliefs of the Manusmriti and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The dispute has caused disturbances in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sessions as they were adjourned due to protests occurring inside and outside Parliament, where Congress MPs and other opposition members carried out a demonstration while holding images of Ambedkar.
The government has taken a position on the matter at hand, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who criticized the Congress for sensationalizing the issue and distorting Shah’s comments.
“The BJP holds Baba Ambedkar in regard, and this is well known across the nation,” Rijiju mentioned. He criticized the Congress for manipulating a segment of Shah’s statement and presenting it without context, “Rijiju expressed. He also censured the Congress for their theatrics during their demonstration outside Parliament featuring images of Ambedkar.
Central Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also condemned the conduct of the Congress. Called for clarification regarding their behavior.