Why Amit Shah's remarks triggered protests in Parliament: 'Aaj kal ek fashion ho gaya hai...'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. (PTI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday led a fierce counter in Parliament as he sought to demolish the Opposition's claims on the BJP attempting to "change the Constitution" and do away with reservations.

Claiming that the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worked towards the upliftment of the backward classes, Shah slammed the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for disrespecting Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution of India.

Shah's remarks led to an uproar in Parliament as Opposition parties on Wednesday stalled proceedings in both Houses demanding a discussion on the Union Home Minister's remarks, which they termed as an insult to Ambedkar. Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion over Shah’s remarks while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the minister's resignation.

We demand Home Minister Amit Shahs resignation. , ! pic.twitter.com/jqiNajLOrc
Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 18, 2024

What Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha

In his closing remarks during the two-day debate on the Constitution, Shah accused the Congress party of “not working for the welfare of backward classes” and “committing injustice to Muslim women”.

Shah also pointed out that in the last 16 years, the BJP government amended the Constitution 22 times, in contrast with the Congress party, which amended the Constitution 77 times in their 55-year tenure. He also attacked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, accusing his government of curtailing freedom of expression in the country.

Amit Shah on BR Ambedkar

During his address in the Rajya Sabha, Shah also invoked BR Ambedkar and claimed that the latter resigned from the Cabinet for being ignored and was unhappy with the treatment being meted out to SCs and STs under the then Congress rule.

HM @AmitShah, in case you didnt know - Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar is equivalent to God and the Constitution he drafted is a Holy Book for crores of people across the world. How dare you speak about Dr. Ambedkar with such disdain? The BJPs disgust towards Dr. Babasaheb pic.twitter.com/SmDVLPXCAe K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) December 17, 2024

Ironically, Shah said, Congress was appropriating Ambedkar for the sake of votes. "Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jaata (It has become a fashion to chant Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Had they taken God's name so many times, they would have ensured a place in heaven for seven lives)," Shah said.

“Ambedkar had to resign from the first cabinet of the country. He said that he was unhappy with the behaviour towards the SCs and STs. He disagreed with the foreign policy of the Congress and Article 370. He resigned on being ignored. They are taking the name of Ambedkar because now many people have come who believe in him. Congress is taking the name of Ambedkar for votes,” he added.

Opposition targets Amit Shah over Ambedkar remarks

The Opposition has come out all guns blazing against Shah in Parliament, leading to disruptions and adjournments in both Houses.

"I rise today to bring to the attention of this House the deeply offensive and disrespectful remarks made by the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2024, regarding Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution. These remarks not only insult Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy but also hurt the sentiments of crores of people who revere him as the founding father of modern India and a symbol of social justice and equality,” Congress MP Tagore said in his adjournment notice.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also slammed Shah over his remarks. "Those who believe in Manusmriti will definitely have problems with Ambedkar ji," he wrote in a post on X.

BJP defends Amit Shah

The BJP, however, came out in Shah's defence and accused the Congress of continuing to use Ambedkar's name for electoral gains. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that contrary to the Opposition's claims, Shah's speech carried a sense of reverence for Ambedkar.

"Yesterday, Union HM Amit Shah clearly showed our sense of reverence in his speech. He also said how Congress insulted Ambedkar ji when he was alive...The Congress party did not award him with Bharat Ratna for so many years and along with that, the Congress party insulted Baba Saheb and defeated him in 1952 in an election under a conspiracy...I am a Buddhist and a person who follows the path shown by Baba Saheb. In this country, Baba Saheb resigned from the post of Law Minister in 1951. After 71 years, PM Narendra Modi made me, who is a Buddist the Law Minister of the country," he said.