Training his guns on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Nehru-Gandhi scion of insulting Babasaheb Ambedkar by claiming credit for rights given to backward class, Dalit and marginalised communities.
While paying tribute to Ambedkar on his 123rd birth anniversary at Gandhinagar, Modi claimed that in order to gain political mileage, the Congress was using the name of Ambedkar.
Referring Rahul Gandhi as a ‘Shahzada’, the Gujarat Chief Minister went on to say that the Constitution of India gives rights to all Indian citizens, but the Shahzada is taking pleasure by insulting Ambedkar frequently. “He (Rahul) keeps on saying that the Congress gave the laws (for Dalits and backward). Such comments are nothing but insult to Babasaheb,” said Modi, adding that those who do not know or understand the Constitution of India were trying to take fake credits for cheap purpose (political gain). “The people of India know that the Congress has insulted Dr Ambedkar for numerous times,” he said.
Terming Ambedkar Jayanti — the birth anniversary of Ambedkar — as Dipawali for the marginalised and dalits, he said that he did not know why Rahul enjoys humiliating Baba Saheb. He was saying it in context of Rahul Gandhi’s repeated claims that the UPA Government has given the Right to Information, Right to Education and Right to Food etc.
Meanwhile, BSP chief Mayawati attacked BJP leaders saying when polls come, they see dalits as Hindus. But later, they do not even like to sit with them, and the party was not happy when the architect of the Constitution got Bharat Ratna. Her attack on BJP came soon after Modi raked up Ambedkar to slam the Congress.
“BJP then had not liked Bharat Ratna being given to Ambedkar, and using Advani’s ‘rath yatra’ as an excuse it (BJP) withdrew support from the VP Singh Government,” Mayawati said, adding that Modi was moving about making “false” claims on the issue.