Congress hits back at Advani over his anti-Ambedkar remarks

New Delhi, Mar 2 (ANI): Agitated over BJP leader L.K. Advani's remarks blaming Congress of having acted against Dr. B R. Ambedkar at one time, the party on Monday chose to describe his statement as "complete ignorance of political history".

"Advani alleged that the Congress was anti-Ambedkar and worked against Ambedkar. He also said the Congress is anti-low castes. If anybody who does not know history, such allegations would be termed as non-sense. A statement from a person, who is a prime ministerial candidate of a party, does not only show cheap politics but also reflects complete ignorance of political history," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, the Congress's spokesman.

Questioning Advani's awareness of history, Singhvi said the NDA's prime ministerial candidate was not even aware of the stand taken by his own colleague Arun Shouries earlier in his book "Worshipping False Gods".

"We would like to make a humble request to Advani that he should read a book, "Worshipping False Gods", written by his own colleague Arun Shourie. He is unaware of history and has no knowledge of Ambedkar's relations with Congress. He is unaware of the role played by Ambedkar and Congress in India's freedom movement. He should at least have the knowledge of his colleague's book," Singhvi said.

On Sunday, Advani had accused the Congress of adopting tactics which "ensured" defeat of Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar in post-Independence polls.

"After Independence, when the first government of the country was taking shape, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru gave priority to give berth only to Congressmen in it. But Gandhiji advised him to include scholar leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Ambedkar in the government," Advani had stated in Gwalior during a public rally.

"Though Ambedkar was later made chairman of the committee formed for framing the Indian Constitution in which he had ensured that all sections of society are protected," Advani had added. (ANI)