New Delhi [India], December 18 : As the Opposition intensified its protest over Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday alleged that the Congress had taken a small clip from the speech, distorted it and made it viral.
Addressing the media after the adjournment of both houses, Rijiju asserted that Babasaheb Ambedkar will always remain revered by them.
"Congress should first answer why, in 1951, Babasaheb Ambedkar had to resign from Nehru's cabinet. Congress and its allies have taken a small clip from Amit Shah's speech in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, distorted it, and made it viral. I want to condemn it. Yesterday, Amit Shah clearly stated how Congress humiliated and disrespected Ambedkar while he was alive. I want to refute this distorted clip that is being circulated today," he said.
"I condemn the 'nautanki' of Congress party where they are seen holding the portrait of Ambedkar Ji," he added.
This came after Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress party and said that it had become a 'fashion' for the party to take Ambedkar's name.
"If they had taken the name of God so many times instead of Ambedkar then they would have got heaven for seven lives," Shah said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Varsha Gaikwad, Kumari Selja, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, RJD MP Manoj Sinha along with others participated in the protest.
The Opposition MPs were seen carrying pictures of Babasaheb Ambedkar. They have alleged that Amit Shah insulted Ambedkar in his speech yesterday.
Speaking on it, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister.
"When Amit Shah was talking about Dr BR Ambedkar, he said 'you people keep chanting the name of Ambedkar 100 times, if you took the name of God these many times, you would have gone to heaven 7 times'. This means that taking the name of Baba Saheb Ambedkar is a crime and his intention was to oppose the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. I opposed to this but I was not given the opportunity...Since proceedings of the House on Baba Saheb Ambedkar were underway, I decided to remain silent...I demand his resignation," Kharge said.