New Delhi: Amid criticism over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, the BJP escalated its George Soros offensive, aiming to shift the focus onto the Opposition. The party altered a photo of US billionaire Soros, replacing it with an image of Opposition leaders protesting alongside photos of Ambedkar in Parliament.
“Hello, Congress and the INDI alliance. We’ve fixed the image for you. You’re welcome,” the BJP said, continuing its accusations that Congress collaborates with Soros to destabilize the country.
In response, Congress condemned the BJP’s “tampering” of Ambedkar’s image, asserting that it reflects the ruling party’s lack of “basic respect” for the architect of the Constitution.
Ms. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told news agency ANI, “The way he (Home Minister Amit Shah) insulted Babasaheb is disgraceful. And now, this morning, they tampered with Babasaheb’s photo on Twitter. This is the same mindset that defaces Babasaheb’s statues. Who can trust them?” the Congress MP remarked. “They claim they don’t want to end reservation or change the Constitution, but they lack basic respect. Ambedkar is the creator of the Constitution, and yet, this is how they treat him,” she added.
Congress MP KC Venugopal questioned whether protesting the insult to BR Ambedkar was seen as a “joke” by the BJP. “The BJP is unabashed in its mockery of Dr. Ambedkar. Instead of holding the Home Minister accountable for the immense hurt caused to Babasaheb’s followers, they are doubling down on the ridicule. Is defending Dr. Ambedkar against this insult a matter of laughter for the BJP?”
During a Rajya Sabha debate on Tuesday to mark 75 years of the Constitution, Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that invoking BR Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion.” “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If they mentioned God’s name that often, they might have earned a place in heaven,” Shah said. He also pointed out that Ambedkar had resigned from the first Cabinet due to disagreements with the Jawaharlal Nehru-led government.
Congress and other Opposition parties have accused Shah of insulting the Dalit icon and have demanded his resignation and an apology. The Trinamool Congress has moved a privilege motion against him. Meanwhile, the BJP claimed the Congress distorted Shah’s speech by circulating a short video clip to create controversy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP’s response, claiming the Congress had tried “every possible trick” to undermine Ambedkar’s legacy and humiliate Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In a six-point post on X, the Prime Minister asserted that the Congress and its “rotten ecosystem” were “gravely mistaken” if they thought “malicious lies” could obscure their disrespect for the Constitution’s architect. “The people of India have seen how one Party, led by one dynasty, has tried every trick to erase Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and insult SC/ST communities,” he wrote.
Addressing the media, Home Minister Shah accused the Congress of “twisting facts.” “This happened because BJP leaders spoke about how the NDA governments have upheld the Constitution, exposing the Congress as anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution, and anti-reservation,” he stated.
When asked about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s call for his resignation, Shah responded that stepping down wouldn’t solve Kharge’s problems, asserting that the Congress would remain in the Opposition for another 15 years.
