New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that the Congress was bitten by “votebank ka virus” for opposing the newly-enacted Waq law, saying the party betrayed Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of the Constitution for social justice by weaponising it for their own benefit and turning it into a tool for “appeasement”.
“Congress turned our sacred Constitution into a weapon for gaining power. Whenever Congress sensed a threat to its hold on power, it trampled the Constitution,” PM Modi said while inaugurating the Hisar airport in Haryana. “Congress has always treated SCs, STs, and OBCs as second-class citizens. While their leaders were enjoying themselves in their own swimming pools, only 16 out of every household had the facility to get piped water,” said PM Modi.
Widely revered for his tireless advocacy for Scheduled Castes and his pivotal contribution to framing India’s Constitution, Ambedkar was born into a Dalit family in 1891. A distinguished scholar, he pursued education abroad, but the discrimination he faced in India fueled his resolve to champion social reform. Serving as the country’s first law minister, he left an indelible mark until his passing in 1956.
Hitting back at the Prime Minister, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said BR Ambedkar always stressed the importance of education. The government, he said, does not work on Dr Ambedkar’s vision, but makes tall claims. “They (BJP) only speak against Congress, Nehru ji and all we have done until now. But, I ask what have they done till now and which of Babasaheb’s principles have they adopted?” he asked.
Referring to the Women’s Reservation Act, which mandates 33 per cent reservation of women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, Mr Kharge said, When the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed 2 years ago, the Congress demanded that it be implemented immediately. Our demand was that SC, ST and OBC women be given reservation in it. This is our objective. We have been fighting for this for a long time,” he said.