NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav on Thursday took potshot at Union home minister Amit Shah, claiming he has “gone mad” and “should resign”, amid the ongoing controversy over his remarks about Babasaheb Ambedkar.
During an interaction with reporters, 76-year-old Lalu said, “Amit Shah has gone mad. He must have hatred for Babasaheb Ambedkar. We condemn this madness of his. Babasaheb Ambedkar is great. He should resign and leave politics.”
The comments came after Amit Shah during a Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha remarked that, “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai — Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar Bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to repeatedly invoke Ambedkar’s name. If they had taken God’s name as often, they would have earned a place in heaven).”
This statement prompted protests from INDIA bloc MPs in Parliament, with the Congress demanding a public apology.
“The language of the BJP leaders reflects their hatred towards Ambedkar,” Lalu stated in a press release on Wednesday. He contended that BJP members inherently harbour social discrimination, untouchability, and animosity towards both the Constitution and Dalits.
Former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav criticised Shah, labelling him and his party of being “anti-constitution” who spread hatred.
“Babasaheb Ambedkar is our fashion and passion. He is also our motivation and inspiration. We will not let anyone insult Babasaheb Ambedkar. These people are anti-constitution who spread hatred, and the language used in Parliament is condemnable,” Yadav told news agency ANI.
Earlier both the houses of Parliament experienced disruptions on Wednesday due to opposition protests against Shah’s remarks about BR Ambedkar during his Rajya Sabha address.
The controversy quickly escalated into a major political dispute, with the Congress demanding the resignation of Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, PM Modi and other BJP leaders launched a counterattack, accusing the Congress of distorting Shah’s remarks.
Defending Shah, PM Modi claimed his comments had exposed the Congress’ “anti-Ambedkar history,” accusing the party of undermining Ambedkar by denying him the Bharat Ratna and opposing his electoral campaigns. “Congress can try as they want, but people know the truth about their legacy,” PM Modi added.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge rejected PM Modi’s defence, suggesting the BJP was working against Ambedkar’s principles. “They had said earlier that they will change the Constitution. They are against Ambedkar and his ideology. Their whole work is to finish off Ambedkar’s contribution and the Constitution,” Rahul said.
