BJP Fumes Over Ambedkar Photo On Ground At Congress Protest, But Similar Scenes Emerge In Own Agitation — VIDEO
Amid row over Amit Shah's remarks, BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia demanded apology from Rahul Gandhi for allegedly disrespecting Ambedkar's poster, but faced questions over condition of images in his own protest.
Amid the ongoing uproar over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar, both Congress and the BJP have exchanged sharp accusations of disrespect towards the first Union Law Minister. On Thursday, BJP MP from Delhi, Yogendra Chandolia led a protest in Jantar Mantar where he highlighted photographs of Rahul Gandhi and his allies placing an image of Ambedkar on the ground, terming it an insult while the grand old party claims to champion Ambedkar's legacy
He was carrying a poster that read, "This is how Congress honours Babasaheb, the 'naamdar' sits on the chair, and Babasaheb’s picture lies on the ground."
However, the protest featured scenes of BR Ambedkar's photos in a tempo alongside BJP flags wherein ABP reporter Ajatika saw people stepping on them. When she asked the Lok Sabha member about the same, Chandolia said, "We absolutely respect him." However, he was promptly informed that Ambedkar posters and BJP flags were being stepped on.
In a defensive response, a visibly irked Yogendra Chandolia remarked, "Look you are a good journalist. If you speak like this, it would have been better had I spoken to you after getting down. No one has stepped on the posters. We have just placed it on the tempo, how else would we have brought it here?"
He also hit out at Congress, stating, "The BJP never takes a backseat. Congress is distorting Amit Shah's words. Why are they only focusing on a part of his speech? Why not present the entire context? It was the BJP government that honoured Baba Saheb with the Bharat Ratna."
As the video is now going viral on social media, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate hit out at the BJP, posting, "This is Yogendra Chandolia, BJP MP from Delhi, whose protest saw Babasaheb's picture underfoot. When asked about it, he got agitated!"
यह दिल्ली से BJP सांसद योगेंद्र चंदोलिया हैं
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 20, 2024
पैरों तले बाबासाहेब की तस्वीर थी
उस पर सवाल क्या पूछ लिया
बिफर गए! pic.twitter.com/ol8N5dpOwc
BJP Protests In Delhi As Congress Demands Shah's Resignation Over Ambedkar Remark
The BJP’s Delhi unit, along with its SC and ST Morcha leaders, staged protests across the city on Thursday, demanding an apology from Congress for its alleged disrespect towards Ambedkar, both during his lifetime and posthumously. The protests were sparked by Congress and AAP demonstrations against Shah's remarks involving the mention of BR Ambedkar.
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Protests also took place near Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where BJP leader Bhupendra Gothwal, alongside hundreds of party workers, demanded an apology from Congress. West Delhi BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat addressed protesters, stating that while Congress now swears by the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar’s legacy, it was a BJP-supported coalition government in 1990 that awarded Ambedkar the Bharat Ratna—something Congress failed to do. Other protests were held in the Raisina Road and Chandni Chowk areas, with Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva reiterating the demand for an apology, particularly from the Gandhi family, for the disrespect shown to Ambedkar both during his life and after his death.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday accused the BJP of staging a premeditated "drama" outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar to deflect attention from Amit Shah’s remarks on Ambedkar. Ramesh told PTI that the issue surrounding Shah’s comments remained a significant concern for the Congress, and protests calling for the home minister's apology and resignation would persist, despite the end of the Winter Session of Parliament. He added that the language used by Shah in his Tuesday remarks was highly insulting to Ambedkar.