Fri Dec 20 18:58:25 UTC 2024: ## Parliament in Uproar: Cross-Party Clash Over Amit Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks
**New Delhi, December 20, 2024** – The final day of India’s Parliament winter session was marked by intense protests and accusations following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remarks about B.R. Ambedkar. Shah’s comments, made in the Rajya Sabha, sparked outrage across the political spectrum, leading to a chaotic showdown between the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA alliance.
Shah’s statement, reportedly criticizing the opposition’s frequent invocation of Ambedkar’s name, triggered widespread condemnation. The INDIA alliance, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest, demanding Shah’s apology and resignation. Many MPs wore blue in solidarity. The BSP’s Mayawati also strongly criticized the remarks, calling for a retraction and expressing the hurt felt by Ambedkar’s followers. The Samajwadi Party echoed these sentiments, demanding an apology from the BJP.
Meanwhile, the NDA countered with its own protest, accusing the Congress of disrespecting Ambedkar throughout history, citing specific instances involving Jawaharlal Nehru. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya highlighted what he claimed were three instances of humiliation inflicted upon Ambedkar by the Congress.
The protests led to repeated adjournments throughout the session, overshadowing the passage of two key bills. The escalating tensions highlight the deep divisions within Indian politics and the highly sensitive nature of the Ambedkar legacy. The incident adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relationship between the ruling party and the opposition.
First Piper 