Former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal wrote to chief ministers of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, urging them to “reflect” on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged comments against Ambedkar.
Writing to heads of Janata Dal (Secular) and Telugu Desam Party, Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu respectively, Kejriwal said the matter is of greater importance and it concerns the “honour and legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar.” The parties are key allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Union government.
“Recently in Parliament, a statement made by the Home Minister of the country, Amit Shah Ji, regarding Babasaheb has left the entire nation stunned. His remark that ‘chanting Ambedkar-Ambedkar has become a fashion these days’ is not only disrespectful but also reveals the BJP's perspective towards Babasaheb and our Constitution,” the AAP chief charged.
Kejriwal questioned the “audacity” of the BJP to make such comments against Ambedkar, a person honoured with ‘Degree of Laws’ from Columbia University and who championed equal rights for the most marginalized sections of society.
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“This has hurt the sentiments of millions of people across the country. Instead of apologizing for his statement, Amit Shah Ji justified it. The Prime Minister publicly supported Amit Shah Ji's remark, which added insult to injury” he said. Hinting the parties should withdraw their support to the BJP at the Centre, Kejriwal said, “People are beginning to feel that those who revere Babasaheb can no longer support the BJP.”
“Babasaheb is not just a leader but the soul of our nation. After this statement by the BJP, people expect you to deeply reflect on this issue as well,” he added.
The controversy erupted over Shah’s comment during a debate on the Constitution in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Suggesting that the Congress had recently begun invoking Ambedkar’s name for political gain, Shah said, "Had you (Congress) taken God’s name as much, you might have attained heaven.” Union home minister later clarified that his remarks were aimed at highlighting the Congress’s historical opposition to Ambedkar, questioning the validity of invoking his name during elections while ignoring his legacy when he was alive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned Congress for distorting Shah’s statements.