Congress should apologise for always insulting Ambedkar: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sought the Congress’s apology to the nation for “insulting BR Ambedkar repeatedly”.

The Opposition party distorted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s speech in Parliament, he said, speaking at a “meet-the-press” programme in Nagpur.

“The Congress should apologise to the nation for always insulting Ambedkar. Its anxiety was that no one should grow in stature above the Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress distorted Amit Shah’s comments on Ambedkar to mislead the people. BJP and Shah cannot insult Ambedkar even in their dreams,” Fadnavis said.

My speech also distorted: Fadnavis

Even his own speech in the Maharashtra Assembly, where he said Naxalites do not believe in the country’s Constitution, was distorted in such a way that it appeared he did not believe in the Constitution, the chief minister said.

“We now have the technology to get the entire digital footprint for identifying those who are circulating such messages,” said Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio.

Also read: Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Constitution: Congress’s trident to take on BJP

Congress also knows that EVMs are tamper-proof, but “no one can wake up a person who pretends to sleep”, he said.

Power is a means for service: Fadnavis

The Mahayuti received a massive mandate in the assembly elections as it could debunk the fake narrative used by the Opposition during the Lok Sabha polls, he said.

The mandate brings a lot of expectations and challenges, he added.

“As a Nagpur-kar (native of Nagpur), I want to assure you that power doesn’t go to my head. I will never let you down. I believe power is a means for service,” Fadnavis said.

Naxalism at “all-time low”

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will discuss the issue of appointment of guardian ministers of districts with allies NCP and Shiv Sena, he said.

“Whatever decision he takes will be binding on me. I would like to be the guardian minister of Gadchiroli, if permitted,” he added.

Also watch: When Ambedkar and Savarkar were on the same page

Gadchiroli in eastern Maharashtra is affected by Naxal violence. Fadnavis said Naxalism is now at an all-time low, and a lot of development is taking place in Gadchiroli district.

“Wrong to defame Beed”

Referring to the brutal murder of a sarpanch in Beed district, Fadnavis said his government had taken the incident seriously.

“We will not tolerate lawlessness. But it is wrong to defame the Beed district,” he added.

(With agency inputs)