Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Tripura, the state Congress on Thursday held a protest at Agartala over his remarks on Dr B R Ambedkar in Parliament and burnt his effigy. Shah will visit Tripura for the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) starting Saturday.
Thursday’s protest was part of a series of agitations organised by the Congress against Shah’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, with the party saying he had insulted the architect of the Constitution. Cutting across party lines, the Opposition has also demanded that Shah be removed from the Cabinet.
“Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai — Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete toh saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (There is a fashion these days — Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar… Had you chanted the name of God these many times, you would have been blessed with heaven in seven births),” Shah had said on Tuesday.
Tripura Congress president Ashish Kumar Saha, MLA Sudip Roy Barman and others carried placards and posters of Ambedkar while holding a protest rally at Agartala and raised slogans against Shah.
Speaking to reporters, Barman levelled similar allegations against Shah, saying, “He (Shah) insulted B R Ambedkar and millions of Indians who hold faith in the Constitution. We demand he immediately withdraw his comments and issue a public apology.” Commitment to Ambedkar is “not a fashion” for Congress, but instead, the grand old party has always stood by his principles, Barman added.
Saha said Congress is holding protests against the BJP’s “unconstitutional agenda” inside and outside Parliament. He also accused the BJP of moving to replace the Constitution with the Manusmriti. “Amit Shah must resign and issue a public apology to the people of the country for his shameful statement,” Saha added.
Several leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, M K Stalin, Siddaramaiah, Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav etc, have condemned Shah’s remarks.
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