Trinamool files privilege notice against Amit Shah over Ambedkar remarks
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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has submitted a privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of undermining the legacy of Dr. BR Ambedkar and the dignity of Parliament.
The move, spearheaded by TMC leader Derek O’Brien under Rule 187 in the Rajya Sabha, comes amid a wave of criticism from Opposition parties following Shah’s remarks during a debate commemorating 75 years of the Constitution.
During his speech, Amit Shah asserted that invoking Dr. Ambedkar's name had become a "fashion" among Opposition leaders. “It has become a fashion to repeatedly say, ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar.’ If they invoked God’s name this much, they would earn a place in heaven,” he remarked, while questioning the Opposition’s sincerity towards Dr. Ambedkar's ideals. Shah also highlighted Ambedkar’s resignation from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet due to ideological differences.
The remarks triggered protests in Parliament, with Opposition MPs staging demonstrations while holding images of Dr. Ambedkar. The Congress and other parties accused Shah of disrespecting the Dalit icon, demanding an apology and his resignation. They also circulated video snippets of the speech, intensifying the backlash.
In response, BJP leaders accused the Congress of selectively editing Shah’s comments, which had also criticized the Congress for sidelining Dr. Ambedkar historically.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Amit Shah in a six-point post on X, accusing the Congress of long-standing disrespect toward Dr. Ambedkar and the Dalit community. Modi cited examples, including the Congress allegedly defeating Ambedkar in elections, Nehru’s active campaigning against him, and the delayed conferral of the Bharat Ratna to Ambedkar. “If the Congress and its ecosystem think malicious lies can erase their insult towards Dr. Ambedkar, they are mistaken,” Modi wrote.
TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized Shah, stating that his comments revealed the BJP’s alleged “anti-Dalit mindset.” She said the Home Minister’s remarks insulted millions who revere Ambedkar and accused the BJP of attempting to erase Ambedkar’s contributions to Indian democracy.
Banerjee further added, “Dr. Ambedkar is the Father of the Constitution. These remarks are not just an attack on him but on the unity and diversity that the Drafting Committee represented.”