Acceptable To Naidu Or Nitish Or Ajit Pawar?: Uddhav Thackeray On Amit Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks

Maharashtra: As political debate gets heated over Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remark on BR Ambedkar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray asked if it was acceptable to other NDA allies such as TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar and NCP’s Ajit Pawar. The former Maharashtra chief minister wondered that if minister Ramdas Athawale, regarded as one of the Dalit leaders in Maharashtra, continue to be in their cabinet even after the recent development.

“The manner in which Amit Shah spoke in the Parliament yesterday, he displayed insolence. He said that taking Ambedkar’s name has become fashion and that had they taken God’s name as much they would have been in heaven. Who are you? Ambedkar ji is a personality not bound by any side…The manner in which BJP is insulting someone who gave us the Constitution is not acceptable to us,” Uddhav Thackeray said, asking will BJP and RSS take action against Amit Shah? Or did they tell Amit to say this?

Read Also: Video: Opposition Demands Amit Shah’s Apology Over Ambedkar Statement

Thackeray also wondered will the Prime Minister take action against the Home Minister or did the former tell the latter to say the remark on Ambedkar. “RSS should make it clear if this was Amit Shah’s personal view or they told him to say that…” the Shive Sena UBT leader said.

While speaking at the conclusion session of the two-day debate on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,” Home Minister Amit Shah today criticised the Congress party for its repeated references to Ambedkar’s name, stating that had they taken God’s name so many times, they could have secured a place in heaven.

Read Also: PM Modi Attacks Congress Over Ambedkar Row

The remark sparked outrage and protest by the opposition in both houses of the parliament, with members of the lawmakers holding protest raising the constitutional architect’s photo and name. While the BJP dubbed the protests as the “Congress cheap trick,” the opposition has accused the ruling BJP of insulting the Dalit icon, who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution.