TMC stages protests in Kolkata districts against Amit Shah’s remarks on B R Ambedkar

    Kolkata, Dec 23 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress organised rallies across Kolkata and other districts of West Bengal on Monday, condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks on B R Ambedkar.     The rallies were taken out between 2 pm and 3 pm at the block and ward level, drawing participation from several ministers and party leaders.
    The protesters displayed flags and posters along with pictures of Ambedkar, raising slogans against the home minister.
    West Bengal Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim led the rally in Chetla area, while senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh spearheaded the demonstrations in Maniktala.
    In Howrah, State Minister of Food Processing Arup Roy led the rallyists, while party MLA Saokat Molla took out a procession in Canning area of South 24 Parganas district.
    "The rallies are to protest against the undemocratic and dictatorial attitude of the BJP government at the Centre. The comments of Amit Shah have unmasked the real attitude of the BJP towards the architect of the Constitution," Hakim told reporters.
    During a debate on the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha last week, 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, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have attained heaven for seven lifetimes)."
    The remarks came under criticism from opposition parties, with West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee terming Shah’s statement a display of the BJP’s “casteist and anti-Dalit mindset”.
    She had dubbed the remarks derogatory, claiming that those were an insult to the millions of people who look up to Ambedkar for guidance and inspiration.
    Banerjee had also called on people to protest against the comments.
    Meanwhile, BJP chief whip in the assembly Shankar Ghosh said: "Everyone knows about TMC’s scant respect for the Constitution and its founders. The party and the Congress are trying to create a controversy, but will not succeed. TMC members had also carried out attacks on Dalits in rural Bengal in the past."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)