CM trains guns at Modi, says Manusmriti not Constitution

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar.  The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) National Convener flayed Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Manusmriti supporters in one sentence.

“Modi is not the country, RSS is not the Parliament and Manusmriti is not the Constitution,” said Kejriwal, while  addressing a gathering at the Talkatora Stadium. 

Remembering Ambedkar, Kejriwal talked about Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar at the Hyderabad Central University who allegedly committed suicide due to the Centre’s apathy. He urged the Prime Minister to sack two of his ministers, who were responsible for pushing Vemula to take the extreme step. 

“The country is being run on the lines of the Constitution not on the lines of Manusmriti. Let them teach Savarkar in their schools, we will talk about Ambedkar and contest elections on the basis of the Constitution drafted by him,” he added. 

Slamming the RSS for suggesting ‘reconsideration’ of reservation for Dalits, Kejriwal said Baba Saheb had made a provision for reservation for people belonging to the community to ensure their security, but the BJP is making a mockery of the provision. He also fired personal salvos on the Prime Minister and poked fun at some of the programmes launched by his government at the Centre.

“Ambedkar had divided power between the Centre and the state government, but they  (Centre) dissolved the Arunachal government and came to power from the backdoor,” alleged Kejriwal. 

He also alleged that Dalits are confused today on who is respecting Ambedkar and who is misusing his legacy. He alleged that the PM is against anti-BJP state governments and demanded him to shun this path. “Those not raising the slogan – Bharat Mata ki Jai – will be beaten up, this style of goonism must be stopped,” said Kejriwal, demanding action against those involved in such things. Kejriwal also conferred Ambedkar Rattan awardees to Prof Sukhdev Thorat, ICSSR chief and former UGC chairman and  IAS Dr Raja Sekhar Vundru - DDG UIDAI.

A celebration was also organised by the Delhi BJP’s Scheduled Caste front, wherein senior leader Satish Upadhyay urged party workers to get India rid of those, who are trying to divide people on the basis of caste and religion.