BJP deploys CMs to target ‘anti-Dalit’ opposition | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday launched a counter-offensive against Congress, with its chief ministers across the country highlighting instances where they claim Congress functionaries had “humiliated” B R Ambedkar.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath accused Congress of disrespecting Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution, both during his lifetime and posthumously. Addressing a press conference, he accused India’s first PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, of opposing Ambedkar’s inclusion in the Constitution Drafting Committee. He added Congress and SP shared a history of neglecting Dalits, although he avoided mentioning BSP, which had also protested Shah’s comments. He contrasted BJP’s efforts to honor Ambedkar with Congress’s alleged disrespect, noting his party’s initiatives like building memorials in significant places linked to Ambedkar’s life.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel pointed out Congress’s refusal to award the Bharat Ratna to Ambedkar, while focusing on “one family’s glorification”. He criticised Congress for attacking home minister Amit Shah’s comments out of context to fuel political drama. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi said Nehru insulted Ambedkar and demanded that Congress apologise for their actions, particularly highlighting the first PM’s opposition in elections against Ambedkar. Majhi also pointed out Congress’s preference for Muslim quotas over those for SCs and STs, leading to Ambedkar’s resignation from Nehru’s cabinet.
They collectively accused Congress of a long-standing pattern of undermining Ambedkar’s legacy, using recent political debates as a platform to revisit these historical grievances. MP CM Mohan Yadav said Congress netas had circulated a doctored video of Shah to create a confusion about Ambedkar, which is another testimony to frustration within Congress.