Oppn seizes on Shah's remarks on Ambedkar, seeks his resignation; PM, BJP rally in defence

With two days to go for the ongoing Winter session of Parliament to draw to a close, a massive political controversy broke out on Wednesday as the Congress, joined by other Opposition parties, sharply attacked Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks on B.R. Ambedkar and demanded his sacking.

As head of the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders rallied to the Home Minister's defence and said he had exposed the Congress' "anti-Ambedkar" stance.

As opposition parties unitedly protested against Shah and stalled both houses of Parliament, alleging that his remarks had insulted Ambedkar and demanding an apology, Shah lashed out at the Congress, saying the party had distorted his comments. He stated that the discussion on the Constitution in both Houses had "established" that the opposition party was anti-Ambedkar and anti-reservation.

Prime Minister Modi hit out at the Congress, saying its "rotten ecosystem" and "malicious lies" could not hide its misdeeds and that the home minister had exposed the opposition party's "dark history of insulting" Ambedkar.

Parties like the Congress, Trinamool Congress, AAP, RJD, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Left protested against Shah both inside and outside Parliament.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against Shah in the Rajya Sabha, where the Home Minister made the remarks.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge warned that there would be a countrywide agitation if Shah did not resign.

In an unusual move, Shah addressed a press conference and alleged that the Congress had previously misrepresented his and even PM Modi's comments to spread confusion and mislead people.

Shah's press conference at the BJP headquarters capped a day of frenetic political moves from both sides regarding his comments, as the ruling party's top leaders, including PM Modi and his Cabinet colleagues, rallied to his defence after the Congress and other opposition parties launched a blistering attack on him.