NEW DELHI: Admonishing PM Modi for not taking stern action against Union home minister Amit Shah over his remark on Ambedkar, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused both of supporting “each other’s sin”.
In a stinging remark, Kharge said: “If someone says wrong about BR Ambedkar, he should be removed from the cabinet. But they are friends and are supporting each other’s sins.”
Union home minister Amit Shah’s remark meant to corner the Congress on Ambedkar has been latched on by the grand old party to counterattack the ruling BJP.
“These people do not believe in the Constitution. They talk about Manusmriti…PM Modi made 6 tweets to defend Amit Shah. What was the need for this? If someone says wrong about BR Ambedkar, he should be removed from the cabinet. But they are friends and are supporting each other’s sins,” Kharge in a press brief.
The Congress chief also sought Shah’s apology and said that the PM should sack the home minister from his cabinet to stop the people from protesting.
“Our demand is that Amit Shah should apologise and if PM Modi has faith in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar then he should be sacked by midnight… He has no right to remain in the cabinet, he should be sacked only then people will remain silent, otherwise, people will protest. People are ready to sacrifice their lives for Dr BR Ambedkar,” he added.
Kharge’s press conference was in response to PM Modi’s retort to the Congress over the massive political firestorm that has erupted over Amit Shah’s remark in Rajya Sabha.
In his address in Rajya Sabha, Shah said that taking BR Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion” now.
“Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they took God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven),” Shah had said.
“If people took God’s name as much, they would get a place in heaven. Take his name 100 times more, but I want to say what are your sentiments about him,” he added.
Earlier in the day, in a series of social media posts on X, PM Modi listed “sins” of Congress against Ambedkar and said that the party has indulged in “every dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Ambedkar and humiliate SC/ST communities”.
Amid the uproar, both the Houses were adjourned till Thursday amid chants of “Jai Bhim” from the opposition.
Acting a step further, TMC leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien submitted a privilege notice against the union home minister for his remarks, news agency PTI reported quoting sources.