Patna: The controversy surrounding RJD chief Lalu Yadav’s allegedly insulting Dr BR Ambedkar has deepened. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 16 launched a sharp attack on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, saying that his statement “exposes” the real intentions of Lalu Yadav and his party.
Speaking to reporters, Chouhan said, “What has happened to Lalu Yadav? Talking about the backwards classes is just hypocrisy and pretence? You insult Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar, who gave the Constitution to India… This exposes the real intentions of Lalu Yadav and RJD…”
These remarks come amid an ongoing political row over Lalu Prasad Yadav’s alleged disrespect toward BR Ambedkar during the former’s birthday celebration, where Yadav had allegedly kept Ambedkar’s picture near his feet.
Earlier today, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for allegedly insulting BR Ambedkar and called him “arrogant” for “not apologising” over the matter.
“The worker who brought the picture of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar wanted to give it to Lalu Yadav. But Lalu Yadav’s arrogance is reflected in his body language and the way he was sitting… This issue has become so big but Lalu Prasad Yadav did not apologise. The people of the country are not going to tolerate this insult of Babasaheb. On one hand, you say that you are the leader of Dalits and the backwards community and that you advocate social justice… on the other hand, you insult Babasaheb and you are so arrogant that you do not even apologise,” Meghwal told ANI.
Meanwhile Union Minister Giriraj Singh too accused Yadav of “insulting” the Dalit icon and demanded an apology from him.
Speaking to reporters, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has revealed his true mindset towards Dalits… He has insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar. He must apologise to the Dalits of the country for this act of disrespect. Not just an apology– he should go to the banks of the Ganga and repent for his actions…”
Meanwhile, Chouhan, earlier in the day, arrived in Patna to participate in the birth centenary celebration of Shaheed Buddhu Nonia.
The Union Minister said, “Today is the birth centenary of Shaheed Buddhu Nonia, I salute him… The son of the Nonia community had sacrificed everything for the country’s independence… I thank Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah that the dates for caste census have been announced today. We do what we say.”
“I bow before Amar shaheed Buddhu Nonia and pay tributes to him…It is his birth centenary today. An event for the backward community has been organised on this occasion. I have come to take part in the same…” he added. (ANI)
