On December 19, 2024, the Indian Parliament turned into a battleground as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition clashed fiercely over remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
The opposition, led by Congress and its allies, accused Amit Shah of insulting Dr. Ambedkar and demanded a formal apology. In retaliation, BJP MPs staged their own protests, alleging that Congress has a history of disrespecting Ambedkar. Slogans like “Babasaheb Ambedkar ji ka apmaan nahi chalega” (Insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar will not be tolerated) reverberated through the Parliament as BJP members held banners proclaiming, “Ambedkar showed us the path, Congress misled.”
Union Minister Giriraj Singh intensified the debate, criticizing Congress for ignoring Ambedkar’s contributions while members of the Gandhi family were honored with the Bharat Ratna. Singh provocatively suggested that Congress should observe a 24-hour fast and silence to acknowledge their past neglect.
The tensions peaked when MPs from both sides marched toward the Makar Dwar of Parliament, leading to a dramatic standoff where each group tried to outshout the other. The chaos disrupted parliamentary proceedings and underscored the growing divide between the ruling party and the opposition over Ambedkar’s legacy.
Congress MP KC Venugopal condemned Amit Shah’s remarks, questioning if defending Ambedkar was a joke to the BJP. He accused the BJP of ridiculing Ambedkar rather than addressing the opposition’s concerns.
This fiery episode highlights how Ambedkar’s legacy remains a sensitive issue in Indian politics, with both the BJP and opposition leveraging historical narratives to bolster their political stances, fueling frequent confrontations within Parliament.
