TV
As the nation marked the 135th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing its past governments of dishonouring and attempting to erase Ambedkar’s legacy.
The BJP, on Monday, released two dramatized videos that portray key political events of that time and depict how Dr Ambedkar faced repeated “humiliation and ignominy” under then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership.
According to the BJP, Ambedkar was compelled to resign from Nehru’s cabinet after he raised concerns about the neglect and mistreatment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by the ruling dispensation.
BJP Claims Ambedkar Was Forced Out for Questioning Disparity
The video dramatizations claim that Dr Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in protest, accusing the Nehru-led government of giving special privileges to Muslims while ignoring the needs of SCs and STs. The video quotes him saying in Parliament, “Are only Muslims entitled to special privileges? Why shouldn’t the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes be given the same level of security?”
Nehru Allegedly Campaigned to Defeat Ambedkar
The BJP also points to the 1951–52 general elections, where Dr Ambedkar contested from Mumbai North Central on a Scheduled Castes Federation ticket. He lost to Congress candidate Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar—his former personal assistant—by about 15,000 votes. The party alleges that Nehru personally campaigned to ensure Ambedkar’s defeat.
Ambedkar’s Electoral Struggles Post-Independence
In 1954, Ambedkar again ran for office in a by-election from Bhandara in Maharashtra but was defeated by Congress candidate Bhaurao Borkar by a margin of around 8,500 votes. The BJP claims these defeats were part of a broader effort by the Congress to politically sideline Ambedkar.
BJP Alleges Historical Injustice and Political Conspiracy
The BJP contends that Congress deliberately undermined Ambedkar’s stature and legacy through orchestrated political moves. “The countrymen will never forget the affront and insult meted out to the architect of the Constitution,” the party said, renewing its appeal to honor Ambedkar’s contributions in letter and spirit.
