Amid the ongoing uproar in Parliament over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr. BR Ambedkar, the Janata Dal (United) came out strongly in his defense. JD(U) accused the Congress of circulating an “edited and out-of-context” video to create political outrage and gain sympathy. The party, a key partner in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserted that Shah’s speech was a factual recounting of Ambedkar’s struggles, not an insult to his legacy.
Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, JD(U)’s national spokesperson, dismissed the controversy, stating that Congress’s use of a 12-second edited clip of Shah’s speech was misleading. “The context of Shah’s speech was to expose how Ambedkar was humiliated by Congress during his lifetime, not to disrespect him. Congress, which has a long history of sidelining Ambedkar, is now shedding crocodile tears,” Prasad told News18.
He further criticized the Congress for its historical mistreatment of Dr. Ambedkar, citing examples of the party’s opposition to Ambedkar’s draft Constitution and its lack of electoral support during his political career. “Their hypocrisy knows no bounds,” Prasad remarked, accusing Congress leaders of opportunistically claiming Ambedkar’s legacy for political gains.
Amid the controversy, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote letters to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader N Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to condemn Shah’s remarks. However, JD(U) leaders dismissed Kejriwal’s actions as political opportunism.
Prasad criticized Kejriwal for selectively targeting Shah while ignoring Congress’s historical role in marginalizing Ambedkar. “Kejriwal’s selective outrage highlights his political opportunism. Writing to Nitish Kumar while ignoring Congress’s track record on Ambedkar shows his bias,” Prasad said.
JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar also weighed in, accusing Kejriwal of trying to exploit the issue to attack his political opponents. Kumar alleged that Kejriwal’s anger stemmed from Shah exposing the actions of the Congress and its allies in the INDIA coalition. “Congress’s misbehavior toward Baba Saheb is unforgivable, and Shah’s remarks only highlighted this truth,” Kumar added.
The controversy has reignited debates over Ambedkar’s legacy and its appropriation by various political parties. As the row continues, JD(U)’s defense of Shah underscores the growing political rift within the opposition and highlights the challenges of balancing ideological stances with political alliances.
