Congress Repeatedly Disrespected Ambedkar, Now Uses Constitution for Optics

As the Congress party attempts to posture as the sole protector of the Constitution, its own history presents a stark contradiction. From sidelining Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to throttling democratic institutions during the Emergency, the Indian National Congress (INC) has repeatedly disrespected both the principles and the framework of the Indian Constitution.

Why Congress's Claim on Ambedkar Rings Hollow

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, was never respected by the Congress leadership. Far from embracing his vision, they consistently undermined it.

This pattern of disregard wasn't limited to ideology-it played out through deliberate political moves and personal snubs throughout his life.

Congress claiming to protect Ambedkar's legacy is deeply ironic, given how it consistently opposed him during his lifetime.

The party that now holds up his image once did everything it could to keep him out of power and suppress his voice.

The clash began early. In 1930, when Ambedkar attended the Round Table Conference in London to speak for Dalits, Congress boycotted it. Later, when he demanded separate electorates for Dalits to ensure fair representation, Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress strongly opposed it-insisting they alone spoke for all Indians, including Dalits.

Ambedkar's entry into the Constituent Assembly was also blocked by Congress. He got in only because of support from Bengal and the Muslim League-not the party that now uses his image in campaigns. Even after Partition, when he needed a new seat, Congress let him in from Bombay-but only reluctantly, because of his role in drafting the Constitution.

As India's first Law Minister, Ambedkar tried to bring in reforms like the Hindu Code Bill, which would have improved women's rights. But Congress refused to support it. Feeling sidelined, Ambedkar resigned in 1951.

In the very next elections, Congress made sure to field candidates against him-Nehru himself campaigned to defeat him. Ambedkar lost in 1952 and again in 1954.

When he passed away in 1956, the Congress government didn't even arrange official transport for his body. No national honour, no Bharat Ratna, and not even a memorial followed for years. It took public movements to get his portrait placed in Parliament.

For a party that now claims to uphold Ambedkar's ideals, Congress has a long history of resisting, sidelining, and disrespecting the very man they now pretend to celebrate. Their current stance isn't about legacy-it's political opportunism, plain and simple.

Emergency: The Darkest Chapter in Indian Democracy

If there is one episode that represents a complete betrayal of democratic values, it is the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi's Congress government on June 25, 1975. The 21-month period became a textbook example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Civil Liberties Suspended: Fundamental rights were crushed. Habeas corpus, the basic right to life and liberty, was suspended. The judiciary was muzzled and the press was censored.

Opposition Jailed: Over 1 lakh political opponents, including leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Jayaprakash Narayan, and even journalists, were jailed. Families were destroyed, and a climate of fear gripped the nation.

Forced Sterilisations: The Congress regime, led by Sanjay Gandhi, implemented draconian population control measures. Lakhs of people, especially the poor and marginalised, were forcibly sterilised-a gross violation of human rights.

The Constitution Was Amended to Serve Political Ends: During the Emergency, the 42nd Amendment-termed as a "Constitutional Coup"-was passed by the Congress. It added the words "Socialist" and "Secular" to the Preamble without public consultation, fundamentally altering the nature of the Constitution. This was done not to uphold these principles but to serve the regime's political narrative.

Congress Betrayed Ambedkar's Vision

No Real Empowerment of Dalits: Despite ruling India for over 50 years, Congress made little progress in uplifting SC/ST communities. Instead, their policies kept the marginalised at the periphery while paying lip service to social justice.

Denied Electoral Space to Ambedkar: His party, the Scheduled Castes Federation, was never supported by the Congress. Instead, they ensured he remained marginalised in electoral politics.

Ignored His Warnings on Conversion: Ambedkar, while advocating for social reform, warned against conversions under duress, especially to faiths that did not integrate with Indian cultural values. The Congress not only ignored these concerns but encouraged communal appeasement for vote-bank politics.

BJP Has Walked the Talk

Unlike symbolic gestures, the BJP has taken several tangible steps to honour Dr. B.R. Ambedkar-not just through words, but through policy and institutional initiatives.

Ambedkar Memorials & Constitution Day: The Panchteerth initiative, Constitution Day recognition, and the development of Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi are testimonies to BJP's commitment to preserving his legacy.

Welfare Initiatives: Under BJP governments, significant welfare schemes like Stand-Up India, Mudra Yojana, and EWS reservations have directly benefitted Dalits, tribals, and OBCs-realising the dream of social justice that Ambedkar championed.

Political Representation: BJP has elevated leaders from marginalised communities to top positions-from Ram Nath Kovind as President to several ministers and state CMs-showing it walks the talk on inclusion.

Holding Up a Mirror to Congress's Hypocrisy

When RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale asked Congress to apologise for the Emergency, it brought back conversations about the party's past actions. Many feel that the same party which once restricted freedoms is now using the Constitution as a symbol-without addressing its own record.

The real issue isn't about who shows the Constitution more, but who actually protected its values during tough times. For Congress, accepting and addressing its role during the Emergency and how it treated Ambedkar might be important steps to regain public trust.

Until that happens, many people will continue to question the party's current stand-because the past still matters.