Ambedkar, Soros and 'scuffle': High drama unfolds inside and outside Parliament as BJP vs INDIA bloc gets ugly

The political confrontation over Shah’s remark escalated on Thursday as both NDA and INDIA bloc MPs staged parallel protests in Parliament premises

A huge political showdown has erupted over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark on BR Ambedkar during the Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha. The Congress-led INDIA bloc launched an all-out attack on the ruling party for Shah’s comment alleging it was an insult to the architect of the Constitution.

Here’s what Amit Shah said:

Amit Shah’s comment during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha drew massive criticism from the Opposition, which also sought his resignation over the same. "Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar'. If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven)," Shah had said, taking a swipe at the opposition.

Shah’s remarks draw massive ire

Opposition parties unitedly protested against Shah and demanded his sacking, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the BJP rallied to his defence and said he has exposed Congress' "anti-Ambedkar" stand.

Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Amit Shah’s apology while also strongly rejecting his remarks. "We want Amit Shah to quit his post and if he doesn't, I want to tell the Prime Minister that if he has even little respect for Babasaheb, he should dismiss Amit Shah from his post before midnight," he said.

On Thursday, the Congress President submitted a privilege notice against Shah for his Ambedkar remarks. Meanwhile, INDIA bloc MPs led by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi held a protest in the Parliament premises.

Shah, speaking at a conference amid an uproar over his remark, said the Congress had distorted his comments under a malicious campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a thread posted on X, also hit out at Congress saying its "rotten ecosystem" and "malicious lies" cannot hide its misdeeds and said the home minister had exposed the opposition party's "dark history of insulting" Ambedkar.

"They are clearly stung and stunned by the facts he presented, which is why they are now indulging in theatrics. Sadly, for them, people know the truth," Modi said in a series of posts on X.

MPs of NDA, INDIA bloc come face to face at Parliament’s Makar Dwar

The political confrontation over Shah’s remark escalated on Thursday as both NDA and INDIA bloc MPs staged parallel protests in Parliament premises. BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput reportedly sustained head injuries after a scuffle between the opposition and ruling alliance.

This came after BJP-led NDA parliamentarians also carried out a march within Parliament premises, raising slogans and carrying placards demanding an apology from the opposition Congress for allegedly insulting Ambedkar. "Babasaheb Ambedkar ji ka apmaan nahi chalega (Insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar ji will not be tolerated)," BJP MPs chanted in the premises while holding banners which read, "Ambedkar showed us the path, Congress misled."

As the INDIA bloc parliamentarians came face to face with the ruling coalition MPs in front of the Makar Dar of Parliament, the two sides engaged in loud sloganeering in a bid to outdo each other.

Congress vs BJP war escalates

A fresh row erupted over a social media post by the BJP wherein it morphed a picture of INDIA bloc MPs protesting with photos of Ambedkar with the photo of US billionaire George Soros. "Hello, Congress and INDI alliance. We fixed the image for you. You're welcome," said the BJP on X. The ruling party has been alleging that Congress works with Soros to destabilise the country.

Reacting to it, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Thursday that BJP does not have basic respect for the person who is regarded as the Constitution maker. "The manner in which he (HM Amit Shah) has insulted Babasaheb and after that this morning they tampered with Babasaheb's photo on Twitter. This is a mind-set that vandalises the statue of Babasaheb. Who will trust them? They say that they do not want to end reservation, that they do not want to change the Constitution. They do not have the basic respect, he (Babasaheb Ambedkar) is the Constitution maker. You are saying this about him," Priyanka told ANI.

(With agencies inputs)