Only BJP truly imbibed Ambedkar’s vision: Shah

Accusing Congress and other political rivals of indulging in politics in the name of B R Ambedkar, BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that Modi government alone has truly imbibed the Dalit icon’s inclusive vision by taking development to people on the lowest rung of the social ladder.

Noting that the contribution of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Ambedkar was the biggest in building integrated India post Independence, he said if one facilitated the merger of over 350 princely states with India, the other gave the country a beautiful Constitution which envisioned equal development of all sections, communities and regions.

Charging political adversaries with only using the name of Ambedkar to serve their political interests and doing nothing to promote his vision, Shah especially targeted Congress, saying it did nothing to develop places associated with the great leader’s life and times despite being in power at the Centre for nearly 50 years.

He said it was during the previous BJP government at the Centre that Ambedkar was conferred with the much-deserved Bharat Ratna and it was during Modi’s regime that his memorial was built at his birthplace in Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.

“Narendra Modi government alone truly imbibed Baba Saheb’s inclusive vision of growth reflected in the Constitution.

“Like him, we (BJP) also believe that development, in the real sense of the word, cannot be brought about until we take development to people on the lowest rung of the social hierarchy,” Shah told a public gathering at a programme organised here to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar. He said by conducting a country-wide drive titled ‘Gram Udaya-Bharat Udaya’ from April 14-24, the BJP will create awareness among people all over the country about the Centre’s schemes meant for Dalits.