Ambedkar row: NDA, INDIA blocs mount counter protests, RS, LS adjourned till 2 pm
The ruling BJP led National Democratic Alliance and Congress-led Opposition INDIA blocs mounted counter protests in Parliament on Thursday on the issue of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks about BR Ambedkar, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha facing disruptions and adjournment until 2 PM.
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi led the Congress MPs on the issue and demanded an apology from Shah accusing him of disrespecting Ambedkar. On the BJP side, Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur hit back at the Congress, accusing it of "cheap politics over BR Ambedkar whom the party and its leaders despised and insulted all their lives."
In the midst of back and forth and jostling, Rahul alleged that he was pushed around by BJP MPs and prevented from entering the Parliament House.
BJP MP Pratap Sarangi was also said to have sustained some injury during the protest and taken to RML hospital.
Rahul Gandhi's sister Priyanka Vadra and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge were seen leading a procession demanding apology from BJP for Shah's remarks, while BJP MPs asked Congress to apologise for "twisting Shah's remarks maliciously to create confusion and peddle lies."
Shah yesterday said the Congress had selectively edited his statement made in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday and peddled it and the party was considering all legal options as the Congress had done this in the past with PM's statements also.
What had Amit Shah said
Replying in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to the discussions on the Constitution, HM Shah had said, "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). Had they taken God's name so many times, they would have attained heaven...We are happy that the Congress is taking Ambedkar's name but the party should also speak about its real treatment of him. How BR Ambedkar had to resign from the first Cabinet over differences with the then Congress-led government's policies including Article 370...How appropriate is it to use for votes the name of the same person you insulted throughout."
