Parliament LIVE | ‘Malicious lies, rotten ecosystem’: PM snaps at Cong over Ambedkar issue
On Tuesday, Amit Shah criticised the Congress over the 77 Constitution amendments it has made, while Kharge said the former had come only to praise Modi
An uproar was witnessed in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday (December 18) as Opposition MPs protested against the alleged insult of Dr BR Ambedkar by Union Minister Home Amit Shah in his speech on Constitution on Tuesday (December 17) and demanded an apology from him.
Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were first adjourned till 2 pm and then for the day shortly after reconvening at 2 pm.
Opposition MPs troop into well in LS
As soon as proceedings began in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Congress members trooped into the well displaying posters of Ambedkar and sought an apology from Shah for his remarks during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Some members of INDIA bloc were also in the well of the House.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was present in the House along with his sibling Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Also Read: Watch | Showdown over Constitution: More Mudslinging, Less Substance | Ep 08
Members of other Opposition parties, including from Trinamool Congress, stood at their seats in support of the Congress.
Meghwal defends Shah
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal countered the Congress, saying the party has always insulted Ambedkar and ensured his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
The minister also claimed that the Congress has now been forced to take the name of Ambedkar though the party does not respect him.
Speaker Om Birla asked the members to allow the Question Hour to continue but as the din continued, the proceedings went on for less than two minutes before being adjourned till 2 pm.
Uproar in Rajya Sabha
Soon after the listed papers and reports were tabled in the Rajya Sabha and the House went ahead with the scheduled Zero Hour, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh rose and alleged that Shah insulted Ambedkar.
Soon, several other Congress members were on their feet and started raising slogans like "'Amebedkar ka apaman nai sahega Hindustan' (India will not tolerate Amebedkar's insult)".
Countering them, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said it was the Congress that insulted Ambedkar and did not honour him with a Bharat Ratna.
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge raised a poster of Ambedkar.
Following this, House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
The opposition MPs are demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's apology for his remarks on Tuesday which they claimed were an insult to B R Ambedkar.
What Shah said
Speaking at the conclusion of the debate in the Rajya Sabha on 75 years of the Indian Constitution on Tuesday, Shah accused the Congress of making amendments to the Constitution during its rule to stay in power. He claimed that the BJP governments on the other hand made amendments that were meant to “empower citizens”.
The home minister said the Congress amended the Constitution 77 times during its 55 years as the ruling party, while the BJP made 22 amendments in the 16 years it has been in power. Taking a dig at Congress for using the name of Ambedkar, Shah said the former should also speak about its real sentiments about him, pointing out how he had to resign from the first Cabinet over differences with the then-Congress government over its policies.
“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 had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven),” he said.
Follow the live updates here
Live Updates
- 18 Dec 2024 3:38 PM IST
BJP, Congress exploiting Ambedkar's legacy: Mayawati
BSP president Mayawati has accused the BJP and Congress of exploiting BR Ambedkar’s name for political gains while failing to genuinely respect or honour his contributions. She alleged that these parties have not done enough for Dalits and other marginalised communities.
“Instead of using Dr BR Ambedkar as a tool for their political benefits, the BJP, the Congress and their allies must truly respect and honour his legacy. The BSP has no objection to the gods these parties worship, but for Dalits and the marginalised, Dr Ambedkar is their sole god. It is because of him that these communities were granted constitutional rights, a moment that, for them, equates to gaining heavenly bliss for seven lifetimes,” Mayawati posted on X in Hindi.
She further alleged that the compassion Congress and BJP claim to have for Dalits is “nothing more than a façade” aimed at misleading people.
“Their so-called love for Dalits and other marginalised communities is pure deception. True welfare for these communities is impossible under their rule. Their actions are more symbolic than meaningful, with little actual impact on people’s lives,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.
Mayawati stressed that the “Bahujan Samaj” and its great saints, spiritual leaders, and icons were given genuine respect and recognition “only during BSP governments”. The Congress on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Home Minister Shah for his remarks in the Rajya Sabha which it claimed were an insult to Ambedkar. It also demanded that Shah should apologise publicly and in Parliament for the remarks.
- 18 Dec 2024 3:14 PM IST
Priyanka likely to be in JPC on ONOE bills
Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Sukhdeo Bhagat, and Randeep Surjewala are the party’s likely choices for the joint committee of Parliament that will scrutinise the bills for simultaneous polls, PTI has reported.
Two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate on Tuesday. Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws — a Constitution amendment bill and an ordinary bill — as an attack on the federal structure, a charge rejected by the government.
Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi termed the bills “anti-constitutional”. “It is against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the bill,” she said.
