Parliamentary Row: Kharge Tables Privilege Notice Against Shah over Ambedkar Remarks

Ambedkar Row: Mallikarjun Kharge Submits Privilege Notice in Parliament Against Amit Shah

New Delhi, September 16, 2023: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has submitted a privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament for allegedly misleading the House over his statements on the contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to the Indian Constitution.

Background

The controversy erupted after Shah's speech during a recent event in Hyderabad, where he claimed that Ambedkar was not the sole architect of the Constitution. Shah stated that several other leaders, including Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Jawaharlal Nehru, had also played significant roles in its drafting.

Kharge's Privilege Notice

In his privilege notice, Kharge accused Shah of "willfully misleading the House" by downplaying Ambedkar's pivotal role in the Constituent Assembly. He argued that Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee and was primarily responsible for drafting the Constitution.

Kharge also cited historical records and expert opinions to support his claim. He referred to the Constituent Assembly Debates, which show that Ambedkar was the driving force behind the drafting process and made substantial contributions to the Constitution's content and structure.

Demand for Apology

Kharge demanded that Shah apologize to the House and withdraw his earlier statements. He also urged the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, to take appropriate action against the Home Minister for breaching the privilege of the House.

Reaction from BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed Kharge's notice as a "political stunt." Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia defended Shah's statements, arguing that he had accurately acknowledged the contributions of multiple leaders to the Constitution.

Significance

The privilege notice has sparked a heated debate in the Parliament and beyond. It raises questions about the importance of historical accuracy in public discourse and the role of the government in preserving the legacy of national icons.

Next Steps

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha is expected to decide on the admissibility of the privilege notice. If admitted, the matter will be referred to the House's Privileges Committee for further investigation and action.

The outcome of this case has the potential to impact the political discourse on Dr. Ambedkar's contributions and the role of various leaders in shaping the Indian Constitution.

Short Description

⚡️ #AmbedkarRow: Mallikarjun Kharge files privilege notice in Parliament against Amit Shah over remarks on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 🗣️🚫

Kharge has accused Shah of "distorting facts" and making "false and derogatory" statements about the architect of India's Constitution.
#AmbedkarRow #ParliamentPrivilegeNotice #MallikarjunKharge #AmitShah