The escalating political tension over Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on BR Ambedkar sparked a dramatic protest in Parliament on Thursday, with Opposition MPs climbing the Makar Dwar to demand an apology and resignation. The protest was fueled by a series of controversial remarks made by Shah in the Rajya Sabha, which led to sharp criticism from the Congress-led Opposition.
Shah’s statement, made earlier this week, claimed that Congress leaders would have secured a place in heaven had they focused on chanting God’s name instead of repeatedly invoking Ambedkar. “It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God’s name as much, they would have secured a place in heaven,” Shah remarked. He also added that while the BJP welcomed the Congress’s acknowledgment of Ambedkar, it questioned their true feelings towards the Dalit leader.
The Opposition seized on these comments, accusing the BJP and Shah of disrespecting Ambedkar’s legacy. As part of their protest, several leaders from the ‘INDIA’ alliance, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi, climbed the Makar Dwar in Parliament, holding placards demanding Shah’s resignation and an apology for his remarks.
Amid the protest, a scuffle broke out, leading to injuries for two BJP MPs. Pratap Chandra Sarangi alleged that Rahul Gandhi pushed an MP, causing him to fall and injure him. Sarangi, who was seen in a wheelchair with a handkerchief on his forehead, claimed that he was hurt when the MP fell onto him. In response, Rahul Gandhi denied the allegations, stating that he was simply trying to enter Parliament when BJP MPs attempted to block and threaten him.
In a further twist, BJP MP Mukesh Rajput, one of those reportedly injured, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohiya (RML) Hospital, with his condition said to be serious.
The controversy has intensified as Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi and Rajya Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge, accused BJP MPs of obstructing their entry to Parliament. Congress later shared a video showing their leaders being allegedly stopped by BJP members at the entrance.
This episode has further fueled the already tense political atmosphere, with the Opposition continuing to demand accountability from the government over the remarks and the ensuing chaos in Parliament.
