Parliament scuffle: Clash a BJP drama, says Congress, demands Amit Shah's exit

NEW DELHI: Congress brass on Thursday reiterated its demand for the sacking of home minister Amit Shah for "disparaging" Ambedkar, adding that "drama" created by BJP in Parliament complex during the opposition's protest is a planned distraction from the real issue. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge warned of a "national movement" against the atmosphere being created by BJP.

Rahul Gandhi said BJP employed the same tactic to block a debate in Parliament on Adani's indictment in the US, as it is doing in the case of Shah's "insult" of Ambedkar.

"The truth is that the home minister has insulted Ambedkar and he should resign. They are trying to distract from the main issue. PM Narendra Modi's friend Adani has been indicted in the US and the PM is selling the country to Adani, and they don't want a discussion," he said, adding, "Amit Shah, apologise and resign."

"We have been saying from the beginning that the BJP-RSS mindset is anti-Ambedkar and anti-Constitution, and they want to efface the contributions of Ambedkar, and the home minister revealed that mindset in public," Rahul said.

Kharge said, "We are fighting for people's issues, and BJP is doing a drama."

Kharge and Rahul addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters after the controversy over Shah's remarks on Ambedkar was overtaken by claims and counter-claims of a clash among opposition and BJP MPs in Parliament complex in the morning.

"Again, BJP has launched a new distraction. We were marching peacefully from the Ambedkar statue to the Parliament House. BJP MPs with sticks stopped us and did not allow us to enter Parliament. They are trying to distract," Rahul said.

Kharge said "the PM and home minister are insulting Ambedkar and abusing Nehru", and whatever they have said till now is a "plain lie".


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