Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress Party for its longstanding disrespect towards Dr B R Ambedkar and its attempts to distort the leader’s legacy. Through a series of posts on X , the Prime Minister fiercely criticised Congress for undermining Dr Ambedkar’s contributions and for its alleged mistreatment of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities during their time in power.
PM Modi accused Congress and its “rotten ecosystem” of spreading “malicious lies” in an attempt to cover up their historical misdeeds, particularly their repeated insults towards Dr. Ambedkar and the marginalised communities. He made it clear that these attempts would not succeed in erasing the truth, as the people of India are aware of the Congress party’s role in undermining Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy and the plight of the SC/ST communities under their governance.
Prime Minister Modi recounted a series of actions by the Congress Party that, according to him, reflect its deep disrespect for Dr. Ambedkar. Modi alleged that Congress had actively worked to defeat Dr. Ambedkar in elections not just once, but twice. He specifically pointed to the role played by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who, according to Modi, campaigned against Ambedkar in an attempt to make his loss a matter of prestige. This personal vendetta, Modi claimed, set the tone for Congress’ long history of undermining Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions to the nation.
In addition to this, PM Modi pointed to Congress’ refusal to honor Dr. Ambedkar with the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award, despite his monumental contributions to India’s social and political landscape. He also highlighted the denial of a portrait of Dr. Ambedkar in the Central Hall of Parliament, an affront that, according to Modi, symbolised the party’s continued disregard for the leader’s legacy.
PM Modi accused Congress of actively contributing to the historical oppression of SC/ST communities, asserting that the worst massacres against these communities occurred under Congress rule. He stated that despite being in power for decades, Congress did little to address the issues facing the marginalised communities and failed to take substantive actions to empower them.
In contrast to Congress’ actions, PM Modi emphasised the current government’s tireless work to honor Dr Ambedkar’s vision of an empowered and just India. The Prime Minister pointed to a number of initiatives by the Modi government that have directly benefited the SC/ST communities and the poor.
PM Modi highlighted several flagship programs such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aimed at improving sanitation across the country, and the PM Awas Yojana, which has provided affordable housing for millions. He also pointed to the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide safe drinking water to every household, and the Ujjwala Yojana, which provides free LPG connections to poor families, particularly benefitting women in rural areas.
According to PM Modi, each of these schemes has had a transformative impact on the lives of marginalised communities, fulfilling Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of social and economic justice.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, aimed at protecting SC and ST communities from discrimination and violence. PM Modi asserted that these measures were a testament to the government’s commitment to Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals.
PM Modi also pointed to the government’s efforts to preserve and develop key sites associated with Dr. Ambedkar. Over the past decade, the BJP-led government has worked to develop Panchteerth, the five iconic places linked to Dr. Ambedkar’s life and work, ensuring that future generations of Indians would be able to visit and pay homage to these crucial sites.
One of the most significant developments, according to PM Modi, was the long-pending resolution of the issue of land for Chaitya Bhoomi, the memorial where Dr. Ambedkar’s remains are enshrined in Mumbai. The Prime Minister stated that the matter, which had been unresolved for decades, was finally settled by the current government. Modi also mentioned that he himself had visited Chaitya Bhoomi to pay respects to Dr Ambedkar.
Further, PM Modi said that, it was the acquisition of the house where Dr. Ambedkar spent his final years, located at 26, Alipur Road in Delhi. The house has been preserved as a heritage site, allowing the public to visit and learn about Dr Ambedkar’s final years of work and thought. He emphasised the government’s acquisition of Dr. Ambedkar’s house in London, a key site where the leader lived during his time studying abroad.
PM Modi’s remarks were largely a rebuttal to Congress’ ongoing criticisms of the Modi government, with the Prime Minister particularly singling out Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent speech in Parliament. During the speech, Amit Shah exposed Congress’ “dark history” of insulting Dr. Ambedkar and failing to empower the SC/ST communities. As per PM Modi, Congress was left “stung and stunned” by the facts presented by Shah, and the party’s leaders were now engaging in “theatrics” in a desperate attempt to deflect from the truth.
PM asserted that the people of India were no longer fooled by Congress’ rhetoric. He emphasised that the truth about the Congress party’s historical actions against Dr. Ambedkar and the SC/ST communities was widely known and could not be erased by mere political theatrics.
