A political storm has erupted after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Dr. BR Ambedkar, drawing sharp criticism from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Shah’s comments, made while targeting the Congress, have triggered reactions from opposition leaders, questioning the stance of BJP allies like Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)].
In a post on X, Kejriwal directly addressed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, asking if they supported what he described as an “insult to Baba Saheb Ambedkar” by Amit Shah. “The people of the country want to ask Honorable Nitish Ji and Chandrababu Naidu Ji – Do you support the insult of Baba Saheb done by Amit Shah Ji?” Kejriwal wrote in Hindi.
The controversy started after Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress, accusing the party of merely invoking Ambedkar’s name for political gains. Shah said, “If Congress leaders had taken the name of God as many times as they do Ambedkar’s, they would have attained heaven for seven lives.”
AAP’s criticism was followed by a defense from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who backed Amit Shah’s remarks. Modi stated that Shah had merely exposed the Congress’ “dark history” of neglecting and insulting Ambedkar, leaving the party rattled by the facts presented.
The BJP, while standing firm on Shah’s comments, continued to target the Congress, alleging that the party had never truly honored Ambedkar during its long tenure in power. However, the opposition, led by AAP, sees this as a fresh attempt by the BJP to rewrite history and appropriate Ambedkar’s legacy.
The remarks have put BJP’s allies like the TDP and JD(U) in a tricky position. Both Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have yet to publicly comment on the issue, despite Kejriwal’s pointed question. Analysts suggest this could test the equations within the NDA alliance, particularly with the growing chorus of discontent over BJP’s polarizing rhetoric.
