Karnataka Assembly Erupts Over Amit Shah's Remarks; Photos Of Ambedkar Placed On Benches, His Name Chanted

On Thursday, a stormy session in the Karnataka Legislative Council was sparked by Congress leaders placing photos of Dr. BR Ambedkar on the benches, as part of a protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks on the architect of the Indian Constitution.

The session, held at Belagavi's Suvarna Soudha during the winter proceedings, quickly descended into chaos as Congress and BJP members clashed over Shah's statement.

What Shah Said

In a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Shah reportedly remarked, "Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata" (It has become a fashion to repeatedly invoke Ambedkar's name. If God's name were taken this many times, one would secure heaven for seven lifetimes).

Reacting to the uproar in the Karnataka Assembly, Congress leader Priyank Kharge took to Twitter, highlighting the repeated chanting of Ambedkar's name by the Treasury Benches, and asked: "The Treasury Benches in Karnataka Assembly are chanting Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... Do you have a problem with this fashion, @AmitShah & @BJP4India?"

Congress MLC BK Hariprasad displayed a photo of Ambedkar at the start of the session, calling for an immediate discussion. "The person who wrote the Constitution has been insulted," he argued. In response, BJP MLC CT Ravi suggested a debate on who had historically disrespected Ambedkar, referencing the Congress party's past actions.

The Legislative Council Chairman, Basavaraj Horatti, initially agreed to allow a debate, but later retracted his decision, stating that Shah was not present to defend himself.

The disagreement escalated into a confrontation as Congress members waved Ambedkar photos and chanted slogans against Shah and the BJP, while BJP members retaliated with their own placards. Despite the Chairman's efforts to proceed with scheduled business, including the passage of the Mysuru Development Authority Bill, the session remained in turmoil.

After several adjournments, the situation failed to settle. The Chairman ultimately ruled that there would be no discussion on Shah's comments, citing procedural limitations. Congress members vehemently objected, accusing the BJP of undermining Ambedkar's legacy.