New Delhi: Facing a massive attack from the opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the Congress in particular, insisting the ruling party, instead of addressing the facts presented in Parliament about the opposition’s “anti-Ambedkar” stance. Chose to distort his comments.
Mr. Shah reached the BJP headquarters to clarify his comments.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Shah said the Congress had no answer after discussions in Parliament. He said that the party has adopted a strategy of misrepresenting the statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and creating ruckus to mislead the people.
He accused the opposition of using ‘old tricks’ to mislead the society by presenting ‘Tod Marod Ke’ facts. Mr Shah claimed that he came from a party which could never insult Dr BR Ambedkar.
“I condemn Congress for tampering with facts. Why did this happen? It happened because BJP leaders established facts about how NDA governments supported the Constitution and that Congress is anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution and anti-reservation.” Shah said. He also hit out at the opposition party for insulting VD Savarkar and said the party violated the values enshrined in the constitution by imposing emergency.
Responding to Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge’s demand for resignation, the home minister said lightly that if it would make the Congress president happy, he could quit but it would never solve his problem. He added that Mr Kharge “must remain in his chair”, a reference to his party being in opposition for another 15 years.
Mr. Shah also maintained that the Congress president should introspect as he acted under pressure from Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi by distorting his views on Ambedkar to be part of this “malicious” campaign against him.
“My speech in the Rajya Sabha was distorted and misrepresented to the public… Congress party has a tendency to sabotage the statement and create unnecessary ruckus. They had earlier edited and released PM Modi’s statement. My statement was also edited using AI technology and broadcasted across the country. Shah said.
In response to a question, Shah said that the party was considering taking legal action inside and outside Parliament against the distorted comments.
Mr. Kharge accused Shah of disrespecting the framers of the Constitution and demanded an apology for “insulting” Ambedkar. Accusing Shah of disrespecting the framer of the Constitution, Kharge said the home minister should apologize to the nation for the “insult” he gave to Ambedkar in his speech. He also warned that people will take to the streets if Shah is not removed from the cabinet.
Mr Shah, along with Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Ashwini Vaishnav and JP Nadda, attacked the Congress for repeatedly “insulting” Ambedkar. He highlighted how Modi and the BJP have honored Ambedkar’s legacy, while the Congress failed to acknowledge Ambedkar’s contribution to the nation and its democratic spirit despite its leaders awarding him the Bharat Ratna.
“No memorial of Babasaheb Ambedkar was built during the Congress tenure. When other parties came to power, they built memorials… PM Modi-led BJP government developed Panchatheerth in Babasaheb’s memory,” the Union minister said.