Both houses adjourned amid uproar over Amit Shah's Ambedkar remarks; Congress demands resignation of Home Minister
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Wednesday as Congress members protested over Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial remarks, which they claimed insulted B R Ambedkar. Congress members gathered in the Well of the House, holding posters of Ambedkar, demanding Shah’s apology. Shah had made the remarks during a debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, which Congress found offensive.
In his speech, Shah criticized the opposition, saying it had made mentioning Ambedkar a "fashion" and suggesting that had they taken God's name as often, they would have achieved heaven. This statement sparked a backlash, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanding Shah’s resignation and public apology. Kharge, flanked by opposition leaders, said, "The insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar is wrong, and Shah should resign for insulting both Ambedkar and the Constitution."
Kharge accused the BJP and RSS of disrespecting Ambedkar, aligning their ideology with Manusmriti, which he claimed was aimed at undermining Ambedkar's legacy. He warned that such remarks would provoke widespread protests, emphasizing that no party would accept the insult of Ambedkar. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also announced nationwide marches by Pradesh Congress Committees at Raj Bhavans, protesting against the remarks and other issues like the Adani scandal and the situation in Manipur.
The controversy stemmed from Shah’s speech, where he criticized Congress for treating the Constitution as a "private fiefdom" and accused them of playing fraud with Parliament. Shah also attacked the Congress for its stance on Muslim reservation and the Uniform Civil Code. Congress leaders, including MP Neeraj Dangi, demanded Shah’s resignation, claiming his remarks were an affront to the Dalit community and showed the BJP's true attitude toward marginalized groups.
Earlier, Congress shared a video snippet of Shah's Rajya Sabha speech, where he mocked the opposition for invoking Ambedkar repeatedly. This led to further condemnation from Congress, with Jairam Ramesh highlighting Shah’s dismissal of Ambedkar's significance. As the debate escalated, the session was adjourned, and the protest continued across the country, with Congress demanding accountability from the Home Minister.
