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INDIA Bloc holds Ambedkar aloft as symbol of human dignity, demands Amit Shah’s resignation

The home minister in his speech said if the Congress invoked God as often as it does Ambedkar (as is the "fashion"), it would have been elevated to heaven

INDIA bloc leaders uphold B.R. Ambedkar's portraits outside Parliament
INDIA bloc leaders uphold B.R. Ambedkar's portraits outside Parliament @priyankagandhi/X

Led by the Congress, the INDIA bloc parties demanded the resignation of union home minister Amit Shah today, 18 December, over his remarks on Dr B.R. Ambedkar during the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha the day before, 17 December.

Opposition leaders staged a protest in Parliament, holding placards and Ambedkar's portraits, which got loud enough for Parliament to be adjourned until 2 p.m. INDIA bloc leaders accused Shah of insulting the architect of the Indian Constitution and demanded a public apology.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the protest, raising slogans of “Jai Bhim,” “Sangh ka Vidhan nahi chalega [the RSS laws will not apply],” and “Amit Shah, maafi maango [Amit Shah, apologise]”.

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'Ambedkar's name is a symbol of self-respect of crores of Dalits and deprived people,' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote on X after the protest in Parliament.

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In his speech, Shah drew controversial parallels between Ambedkar’s ideals and the BJP's vision, which Congress leaders claimed distorted Ambedkar’s legacy and reflected the BJP's ideological leanings rooted in the Manusmriti.

The home minister, during the Constitution debate, accused the Congress of invoking Ambedkar’s name as a political ‘fashion’, likening it to the casual invocation of God’s name. He suggested that had the Congress taken the name of any deity as often as it does Ambedkar's, it would have been elevated a place in swarg (heaven) by now — a statement that seems like something of a double-edged sword.

In her X post, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra retorted, 'Taking Ambedkar's name gives people their human rights. Taking Ambedkar's name is a symbol of the valorisation of human dignity. Ambedkar's name symbolizes the self-respect of crores of Dalit and disprivileged peoples'

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Speaking to reporters, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We demand the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for insulting Ambedkar. His remarks are an affront to the principles of equality and justice enshrined in the Constitution. He must apologise to the nation.”

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Kharge too went on to post on X, reminding Shah and the people that "BJP–RSS and their political ancestors... opposed the National Flag — Tiranga [—] and they opposed Ashok Chakra. They burnt [] copies of the Constitution at Ramleela Maidan... in frustration, they are now insulting Babasaheb and his glorious contribution."

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Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also weighed in, stating, “Those who believe in the Manusmriti will definitely be at odds with Ambedkar. This government has consistently tried to dilute Ambedkar's vision for India.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter), sharing a video snippet of Shah's speech and calling it a "grave insult" to Ambedkar's legacy.

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The tension between the opposition and treasury benches escalated after Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted a letter seeking adjournment of the Lower House to discuss Shah’s remarks. The letter alleged that Shah’s statements were "divisive" and undermined Ambedkar’s contributions to building an inclusive democracy.

The BJP sought to dismiss the allegations, claiming that Shah’s speech was taken out of context and asserting the party’s commitment to Ambedkar’s vision. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra called the Opposition’s protests "political drama" and accused them of using Ambedkar's name for electoral gains.

The INDIA bloc has announced plans to raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament and take it to the streets if Shah does not apologise. “This is not just about one remark. This is about defending the soul of our Constitution,” said a senior Opposition leader.

With the Parliament's winter session underway, the Opposition is gearing up for a showdown as the House convenes again now. The row over Shah's comments seems likely to continue to dominate political discourse in the days to come.

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