Kejri targets BJP over Shah’s remarks on Dr Ambedkar

The AAP, led by party chief Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday held a protest against the remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr BR Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha, near the BJP headquarters. The party and Kejriwal demanded apology, strict action and his resignation from the post.

“Dr Ambedkar is the voice of the oppressed and the cornerstone of India’s democracy. Shah’s remarks is not an insult of Dr Ambedkar, but of every Dalit, underprivileged citizen and believer in equality. We will not let this pass,” said Kejriwal slamming Shah. He slammed the BJP for systematically attacking the values that Babasaheb stood for.

Delhi CM Atishi, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and MP Sanjay Singh were also present at the protest.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said: “Amit Shah mocked Dr Ambedkar… I want to remind him that Dr Ambedkar is no less than a God for millions of Dalits, the poor, the oppressed, the marginalised, and the underprivileged in this country.”

AAP volunteers and leaders tried to march towards the BJP headquarters on the DDU Marg, but were stopped by police personnel deployed on the barricaded road.

“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.

Kejriwal further said AAP was committed to upholding the values and principles of Dr. Ambedkar.

“The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Amit Shah makes it evident that this was not a spontaneous remark, but a calculated strategy by the BJP to insult Dr Ambedkar in Parliament. We strongly condemn this,” the former Delhi CM continued.

He said the BJP had now made its position clear – “They are against Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution he gave us. BJP supporters must now choose — do they stand with Dr Ambedkar or with the BJP? They cannot support both. The BJP’s leadership has unequivocally shown their disdain for Dr Ambedkar.”

With Delhi Assembly elections round the corner, Kejriwal said the issue would be taken to every household. “We will expose how the BJP’s top leadership has insulted Dr Ambedkar,” he said.

In post on X he wrote, “Jo Baba Saheb se kare pyaar, Woh BJP ko kare inkaar” (Those who love Dr Ambedkar must reject the BJP)”.

He also called upon NDA members - Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu - asking if they support the remarks of Shah on Dr Ambedkar.