Congress Seeks Amit Shah's Resignation Over Ambedkar Remark, To Stage Nationwide Protest Today

The Congress party has organised a nationwide protest on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah following controversial remarks he made about BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Photo Credit: PTI

The protests will take place across the country, including at all Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) and district headquarters, according to news agency ANI.

Amit Shah's comments about BR Ambedkar have sparked a significant political row, with the Congress-led opposition seizing on the remarks to criticise the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

The opposition's attack, which included parties such as Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Left parties, and Shiv Sena-UBT, led to the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. The BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defended Shah amid the uproar.

What Did Amit Shah Say About BR Ambedkar?

The controversy began with Shah's remarks on Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha, where he suggested that Congress leaders might have secured a place in heaven had they chanted God's name instead of repeatedly invoking Ambedkar's.

"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 remarked.

He further stated that while the BJP welcomed the Congress invoking Ambedkar's name, the party should also reveal its genuine sentiments towards him.

Amit Shah's Remarks Trigger Political Uproar

Shah's comments provoked a major political backlash, with the Congress and other opposition parties accusing him of insulting the architect of India's Constitution and demanding his resignation.

The uproar in Parliament spilled over to the streets, with protests erupting in Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. In Delhi, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal led hundreds of supporters outside the BJP headquarters, shouting slogans such as "Amit Shah maafi mango, Amit Shah sharm karo" (Amit Shah, apologise; Amit Shah, shame on you).

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Amit Shah immediately if he failed to step down voluntarily, asserting that it was a matter of respect for Ambedkar.

PM Modi's Response

In response to the backlash, PM Modi defended Amit Shah on Wednesday, stating: "If the Congress and its rotten ecosystem think their malicious lies can hide their misdeeds of several years, especially their insult towards Dr Ambedkar, they are gravely mistaken."

"The people of India have seen time and again how one party, led by one dynasty, has indulged in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr Ambedkar and humiliate the SC/ST communities," Modi added in a post on X.

Amit Shah's Defence

Amit Shah addressed the controversy in a press conference on Wednesday, accusing the Congress of being "anti-BR Ambedkar and anti-Constitution."

Responding to Kharge's call for his resignation, Shah said it would have no impact on the Congress party's fortunes. He went on to predict that the Congress would remain in opposition for the next 15 years, regardless of his resignation.