Congress never gave respect to Ambedkar, says Nadda

The Congress never gave respect due to Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, but the Modi government has fulfilled his vision and followed the path he showed, said BJP president JP Nadda on Tuesday (April 14).

Nadda’s comments came after he paid rich tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution on his 129th birth anniversary. In his remark, Nadda contrasted the BJP’s respect for Ambedkar with the alleged indifference of the Congress.

सामाजिक कुरीतियों को दूर करने एवं दलित, शोषित और वंचितों को उनका अधिकार दिलाने वाले भारत के संविधान निर्माता डॉ भीमराव अंबेडकर जी की जयंती के अवसर पर पुष्पांजलि अर्पित की।

आपका तप, त्याग, संकल्प एवं समर्पण हमें सदैव प्रेरणा देता रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/d7MXi5dn84

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 14, 2020

Despite severe opposition, Ambedkar never compromised with his values and raised issues of social inequality and discrimination, Nadda said, noting that he resigned as law minister while fighting for the rights of women.

“It is unfortunate that during the lifetime of Babasaheb when the Congress was in power, it never gave him the respect due to him. What is also unfortunate that he was given the Bharat Ratna four decades after his death,” Nadda said in a message to BJP workers. He also asked party workers to follow his ideals.

Ambedkar, a crusader for Dalit rights and social equality, was given India’s highest civilian award in 1990 during the VP Singh-led National Front government, which was supported by the BJP.

Related news: Ambedkar: The man from Manhattan

Nadda noted the Modi government has elevated five places, including where Ambedkar was born and died, as ‘panch tirth’ (five pilgrimages), asserting he was and will remain an ideal for the BJP in its efforts to empower the backward sections of society.

He asked BJP workers to help the poor in this time of a pandemic, saying this will be the best tribute to Ambedkar. What Ambedkar had envisioned has been fulfilled by the Modi government which, Nadda added, has followed the path shown by him to work for the welfare of all sections of society.

(With inputs from agencies)