In Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien submitted a privilege notice against Shah. And in Lok Sabha, Congress MP K Suresh gave a notice for an adjournment motion to discuss Shah’s remarks.

Replying to the two-day debate in Rajya Sabha on the ‘Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India’, Shah had said on Tuesday: “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai — Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… Itna naam agar Bhagwan ka lete toh saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (There is a fashion these days — Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… Had you chanted the name of God these many times, you would have been blessed with heaven in seven births).” He went on to add, “we are happy that Ambedkar’s name is being taken”, before listing the Congress’s “injustices” towards him.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Wednesday evening, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said: “We want an apology from Amit Shah. We want Modiji to remove him before midnight if he has any respect for the Constitution. Only then, will people be quiet… Otherwise, there are people who are willing to give their lives for Babasaheb. There is no question of caste. Ambedkar is for all.”

“I say to the PM that if you have any space for Babasaheb, then remove Amit Shah ji immediately. If not, then all you say about Ambedkar ji is drama… Our first demand is removal of Amit Shah, and second is an apology,” he said, adding that if Shah was not removed from the Cabinet, protests would be held across the country.

 Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kumari Selja and KC Venugopal and other opposition MPs hold portraits of Dr. BR Ambedkar during a protest amid the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, (PTI)“Yesterday, Amit Shah ji said something which is condemnable. It is unfortunate that he insulted a Dalit icon who is revered across all sections… He (Shah) taunted the Opposition parties… They don’t believe in the Constitution. When they talk of heaven and hell, it is from the Manusmriti… This is their thinking, and their ideologues also said the same things… They also say the Congress insulted Ambedkar. I have pointed out in the House how they have tried to demean (Jawaharlal) Nehru ji and the Gandhi family,” said Kharge.

“A person is saying such things on live TV. Then, instead of checking him and telling him it was wrong… Modi is defending him through a series of posts on social media. What was the need? If someone says something wrong about Babasaheb, he should have been removed from the Cabinet. They have a deep friendship; if one sins, the other supports him… They never respected the Constitution… They also rejected the Tricolour. They didn’t want the Constitution because it isn’t along the lines of the Manusmriti. Hence, they burnt Nehru ji and Gandhi ji’s photos,” said Kharge.

“Those who believe in the Manusmriti will surely have problems with Ambedkar ji,” Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had said late on Tuesday night.

Echoing these views, Congress MP K C Venugopal said: “Dr Ambedkar is equivalent to God and the Constitution he drafted is a holy book for crores of people across the world… How dare you speak about Dr Ambedkar with such disdain? The BJP’s disgust towards Dr Ambedkar was always well known, and the Home Minister’s statements in the Rajya Sabha further confirm how much they hate and detest him.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “One gets rights by taking the name of Ambedkar ji. Taking the name of Ambedkar ji is a symbol of human dignity. Ambedkar ji’s name is a symbol of self-respect of crores of Dalits and deprived people.”

Several Opposition Chief Ministers also joined the chorus against Shah. “HM Amit Shah’s remarks are an insult to the millions who look up to Babasaheb for guidance and inspiration. But what else can you expect from a party that has internalised hate and bigotry? Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar is the father of the Constitution, this outrageous remark is not only an outright attack on him but on all members of the drafting committee of the Constitution, which symbolised India’s unity in diversity, with members from all castes, creeds, ethnicities and religions,” TMC president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.

Without naming the BJP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said in a post in Tamil on X: “Only those who commit more sins should be concerned about ‘punya’ (good deeds). Those who are concerned about the country, its people and the protection of Constitution will only utter the name of Babasaheb… and they will have to utter only his name.”

Addressing an open letter to Shah, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “The entire country has seen your lack of respect for the architect of the Indian Constitution… Do not attempt to mislead the nation by saying, ‘I have immense respect for Babasaheb, and my words were twisted.’ We are not gullible. Own up to your words and face the nation.”

In Delhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who led a protest near the BJP headquarters, said Shah’s remarks had hurt the sentiments of crores of Dalits and demanded “strict action” against him. “The way PM Modi defended Shah, it appears that what he said in Parliament was a premeditated conspiracy of the BJP,” he said.

“His remarks on Dr Ambedkar show the party’s (BJP’s) arrogance and have exposed its true face… Modi should act against Shah, and should quit if he is not able to do so,” Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said.

“See the kind of language being used… These are the same people who wanted to change the Constitution… These people prefer a monopoly, and that is the condition of Delhi,” SP president Akhilesh Yadav said.

BSP president Mayawati accused both the BJP and Congress of exploiting Ambedkar’s name for political gains. “Instead of using Dr B R Ambedkar as a tool for their political benefits, the BJP, Congress and their allies must truly respect and honour his legacy. The BSP has no objection to the Gods these parties worship, but for Dalits and the marginalised, Dr Ambedkar is their sole God. It is because of him that these communities were granted constitutional rights, a moment that, for them, equates to gaining heavenly bliss for seven lifetimes,” she said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Ambedkar’s grandson, Prakash Ambedkar, said Shah’s remarks reflected the BJP’s “same old mentality”. “Before the BJP came into existence, its forerunners Jana Sangh and RSS had opposed Babasaheb while the Constitution was being adopted… There is nothing new in the statement. They are not able to execute their old plans. Not because of Congress, but because of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and they will continue to sulk,” he said.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay also posted on social media: “Some may feel aversion to the name Ambedkar. But for all the people of India who breathe the air of freedom, he is an unparalleled political and intellectual leader they hold in the highest regard and venerate… We will continue to utter his name with so much happiness from our hearts and lips. We can never tolerate the disrespect of our ideological leader… I strongly condemn the Union Home Minister who disrespected our Anna.”

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