Home Minister Amit Shah – at the centre of a ferocious Congress-led maelstrom following his “Ambedkar is the fashion” quip in Parliament last night – counterattacked Wednesday evening by accusing his rivals of being “anti-Ambedkar” and “anti-Constitution”, and “spreading lies”.
In his typically combative style, a normally unapologetic Mr Shah – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s No 2 and one of the most powerful figures in the ruling BJP – made no reference to his specific comment about the Dalit icon, but declared his rivals had “distorted facts” after being stung by “examples of how the Constitution was attacked and wounded by the Congress (when it was in power)”.
“They (the Congress) have distorted the comment I made in the Rajya Sabha. They made edited versions of Modiji‘s speeches. I request the media to put my full statement in front of the people… I come from a party which follows the ideals of Ambedkar,” Mr Shah told reporters.
“The Congress disrespected the Army and women, and even broke up the country and gave it to foreign powers. When this truth was uncovered… they distorted facts and misled people yesterday.”
“During the discussion (a two-day debate on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution), it was proven it is the Congress that has disrespected Ambedkar…” Mr Shah, battling calls to resign, declared.
He also singled out Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge, who has led the chorus of critical voices, and insisted he had no intention of stepping down. “Kharge is asking my resignation. If that will make him feel happy, then I’ll give it. But the Congress has to sit in the opposition for at least 15 more years.”
“My resignation will not change that,” Mr Shah said, also vowing legal action against the Congress for having allegedly edited versions of his speech to make their point.
Only a few hours earlier Mr Kharge held a press conference of his own, in which he ripped into Amit Shah and the Prime Minister. “If the PM has any respect for Babasaheb Ambedkar, he should drop Shah from the Cabinet. (But)… instead of telling Amit Shah (he) is wrong, PM is defending him…”
