BR Ambedkar's Grandson Slams Amit Shah's Remark On Babasaheb, Accuses BJP Of 'Same Old Mentality'

Dr BR Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash Ambedkar, alleged on Wednesday that Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks about the father of the Constitution reflect the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "same old mentality."

According to Prakash Ambedkar, the BJP continues to "sulk" because they are unable to "fulfil their plans" due to Dr Ambedkar's legacy.

"Before the BJP came into existence, its forerunners, the Jan Sangh and RSS, had opposed Babasaheb during the adoption of the Constitution," said Prakash Ambedkar, who leads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He claimed that Shah's remarks have revealed the BJP's longstanding mindset.

"There is nothing new in the statement. They are not able to execute their old plans. Not because of Congress, but because of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and they will continue to sulk," he said.

Prakash Ambedkar argued that Shah's remarks imply that people should revere God instead of BR Ambedkar, as revering the father of the Constitution means upholding freedom of speech.

"Revering God is as good as accepting 'manuwad'," he added.

Several MPs from the INDIA bloc staged protests in the Parliament premises against Shah's remarks, which they claimed insulted BR Ambedkar.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared a video clip from Shah's speech in the Rajya Sabha on X.

"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, criticising the opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The Congress has demanded that Shah issue a public apology, both in Parliament and outside.

Prakash Ambedkar's Stance on One Nation, One Election Bills

Prakash Ambedkar has also expressed his opposition to the One Nation, One Election proposal, arguing that the introduction of such a mechanism would spell the end of political parties in India.

"The Congress has only five to six days to take a concrete stand on the bills. The failure to take a stand and the passage of the bills means the end of political parties. Sharad Pawar-led NCP's stand will be crucial," he said.

He further alleged that passing the bill for simultaneous polls would pave the way for dictatorship and dismantle the fundamental structure of parliamentary democracy.