NEW DELHI:
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack Union home minister Amit Shah if he had any respect left for Ambedkar, even as opposition members disrupted proceedings in both Houses of Parliament and shared clips of the first part of Shah's statement.
Replying to the two-day discussion on 75 years of Constitution in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Shah attacked the Congress and alleged the opposition party repeatedly disrespected Ambedkar. "It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar...If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have secured a place in heaven for seven lifetimes..." he said, before going on to add that India's first law minister was forced to resign from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.
As opposition members seized on a portion of Shah's remarks, Modi attacked the Congress, saying the opposition party had indulged in every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Dr Ambedkar and humiliate the SC/ST communities. Shah also said that his statement was distorted to create an "illusion" that he insulted Ambedkar.
But the Opposition continued to protest. Kharge accused Shah of disrespecting the architect of the Constitution and said the home minister should apologise to the nation.
"Instead of condemning Shah's remarks, the PM has chosen to shield him, exposing his government's hypocrisy regarding the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar's legacy," Kharge said, adding Shah has no right to remain in the Cabinet as he became a minister by taking oath of the Constitution.
"If Modi has any genuine respect for Dr Ambedkar, he must dismiss Shah by midnight today. Otherwise, all his talk about honouring the Constitution will appear as nothing more than hollow rhetoric," the Congress chief said, warning of street protests.
This story is from the December 19, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Gurugram.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 19, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Gurugram.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Move over Ricky Gervais! Nikki Glaser set to give Hollywood stars a rough time at Golden Globes
American stand-up comedian-actor Nikki Glaser, who is best known for her roasts, is all set to take the stage at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards and deliver a scathing opening monologue on Sunday.
My lyrics are rooted in my personal experiences
For Delhi-based rapper Abhishek Baisla aka MC SQUARE – whose latest release, Kakori Kaand, blends the rebellious spirit of India's past with the struggles of modern-day hustlers – music is a direct reflection of an artiste's roots, struggles and aspirations.
New video of Kylie Jenner fuels pregnancy rumours
American reality TV star and businesswoman Kylie Jenner and actor Timothée Chalamet's relationship has drawn a lot of attention from their fans ever since the pair made it official in September 2023.
Would love to collaborate on an Indian film: Xiumin
Indian fans of South Korean singer-actor Xiumin were pleasantly surprised when he greeted them in Hindi with the words \"Meri aashiqui tum hi ho\" (a reference to a popular track from the 2013 film Aashiqui 2) at the K-Town Festival in Mumbai a couple of weeks back.
Diljit Meets PM Modi, Gets 2025's First Iconic Insta Collab
Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh kick-started the new year with a \"memorable meeting\" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Rise of ice hockey in Leh, in times of an unwanted thaw
In the chilly winter of Ladakh, a game of ice hockey can feel like a warm hug. As the temperatures dip and the lakes freeze, the locals pour water to firm up the surface more and play on them.
India Women Beat Maldives 11-1 In Friendly
Dishing out an impressive show on debut, forward Lhingdeikim struck four goals in Indian women team's comprehensive 11-1 win over Maldives in its second FIFA friendly on Thursday.
Focus on speed: New mantra for Arjuna-winning wrestler Aman
Having lost to Japan's wrestlers at Asiad and Olympics, the Paris bronze medallist says his training stint in Japan was an eye-opener
Decider: All to play for, but all not playing
While Australia have recovered from a poor start, it has been the opposite for India in the series so far
Anti-dumping duty on solar glass may delay projects
THE DOMESTIC SOLAR GLASS MANUFACTURING CAPACITY STANDS AT 10-12GW