Modi, Shah hit back in raging Ambedkar row
Hindustan Times|December 19, 2024
Union home minister Amit Shah hit out at the Congress, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Opposition of spreading malicious lies, after a statement by Shah referring to Dr BR Ambedkar triggered a political storm and jammed Parliament on Wednesday.
Smriti Kak Ramachandran

During his reply to the debate marking 75 years of the Constitution on Tuesday, Shah attacked the Congress and alleged the opposition party repeatedly disrespected Ambedkar. "It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar...If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have secured a place in heaven for seven lifetimes..." he said, before going on to add that India's first law minister was forced to resign from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.

The comment sparked a row on Wednesday as the Congress and other members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) shared clips of the first part of his statement, demanding Shah's resignation and an apology for what they alleged was an insult to the framer of the Constitution.

But a combative BJP dismissed the allegations. "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!" Modi posted on X.

Shah held a press conference accusing the Congress of "distorting" his statement made in the Rajya Sabha to create an "illusion" that he insulted Ambedkar.

Flanked by cabinet colleagues JP Nadda. Kiren Rijiju, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Piyush Goyal, Shah criticised the Congress for being "anti-Ambedkar, anti-reservation and antiConstitution." "The Congress distorted my statement and presented only a small, selective portion to the public, attempting to create confusion and spread misinformation. Twisting facts and spreading lies in society has been an old habit of the Congress," Shah said.

"I come from a party and a culture that, even in its dreams, cannot disrespect Babasaheb's ideas or Babasaheb himself."

The BJP also launched a countercampaign, accusing the Congress of selectively editing Shah's 85-minute speech and sharing a bigger chunk of his address in the Rajya Sabha.

Denne historien er fra December 19, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 19, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HINDUSTAN TIMESSe alt
Ashwin's last walk as an international player
Hindustan Times

Ashwin's last walk as an international player

The footsteps in the corridors of the Gabba in Brisbane would have sounded louder than before for Ravichandran Ashwin. This was, after all, the last time he would experience it as an international player.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times

SOUL OF SPIN SAYS GOODBYE

The spinner who once called himself 'an engineer who became a cricketer' and helped India erect their fortress at home calls it quits

time-read
3 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times

BJP alleges fake caste certificate scam, calls for CBI investigation

The Delhi BJP on Wednesday alleged a scam involving fake caste certificates in the Delhi government, accusing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs of complicity and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times

Playschool director held for placing camera in toilet

A case of privacy invasion has come to the fore from a Noida playschool in Sector 70, where a teacher discovered a hidden camera in the staff washroom earlier this month, police said on Wednesday.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times

In Zen zone: Moulding the marble to match the paint

Smooth curves in pink intertwine the three figures so seamlessly that the marble they are made out of, emotes a unified soul.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Food, drinks, and soulful beats set the mood for Odella's launch
Hindustan Times

Food, drinks, and soulful beats set the mood for Odella's launch

It was a starry weekend in Green Park as founders Nipun Khanna and Samir Aggarwal hosted the grand launch of Odella.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
During a visit to his school as chief guest, actor Vedang Raina gets nostalgic about his days as a student
Hindustan Times

During a visit to his school as chief guest, actor Vedang Raina gets nostalgic about his days as a student

It was a moment of pure bliss and pride for Vedang Raina as the actor returned to his alma mater, Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai on Tuesday.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Hindustan Times

India has every reason to be proud: Shahana on Santosh being shortlisted for Oscars nom

Actor Shahana Goswami's film Santosh, has inched closer to being nominated for the International Feature Film category in the 2025 Academy Awards.

time-read
1 min  |
December 19, 2024
Caught Rahane, bowled Ashwin
Hindustan Times

Caught Rahane, bowled Ashwin

Given a choice, R Ashwin would have liked to have Ajinkya Rahane permanently at slips for his bowling, such was their combination.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 19, 2024
Unbreakable Santosh back to rallying with an eye on Dakar
Hindustan Times

Unbreakable Santosh back to rallying with an eye on Dakar

Astride a rally spec of Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, CS Santosh was riding through the dirt on the banks of the Egidillo river in Spain when memories of him flying through the dunes at the Dakar Rally flashed across his mind.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 19, 2024