Amid intense debates and clashes in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the appointment of the next chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. Sources informed NDTV on Wednesday afternoon about the closed-door meeting, which included Home Minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The meeting comes at a time when the government and opposition parties are locked in heated exchanges during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, set to conclude on December 20.
The uproar intensified after Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. Shah remarked, “It has now become a fashion to keep saying Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If people had taken God’s name as much, they would have secured heaven for seven births.”
The opposition termed Shah’s comments disrespectful and demanded an apology, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge calling for his resignation. Kharge accused the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, of being against the country’s interests. Rahul Gandhi took a direct jab at Shah, stating, “Those who follow Manusmriti will naturally have issues with Ambedkar.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped in to defend Amit Shah, launching a counterattack on the Congress. On social media, he accused the opposition of spreading “malicious lies” and attempting to rewrite history. PM Modi wrote, “If the Congress and its decayed ecosystem think their lies can cover up years of disrespect towards Dr. Ambedkar, they are mistaken. India has repeatedly seen how a family-led party has tried to erase Ambedkar’s legacy and humiliate the SC/ST communities.”
This meeting and the escalating tensions over Ambedkar’s legacy highlight the strained relations between the ruling government and the opposition. The ongoing Winter Session has witnessed significant disagreements, with both sides using the Ambedkar controversy as a battleground for political narratives. The session’s final days are expected to remain turbulent, reflecting the larger ideological divides in Indian politics.
