New Delhi, 14 April (H.S.):

BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday accused Congress governments of repeatedly insulting Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and denying him the special honour he deserved. He made the remarks at a party event held at the BJP headquarters on Ambedkar Jayanti.

Nabin said that for six decades after Independence, there was a mindset of reserving respect for only one political family. He alleged that the architect of the Constitution was not given due recognition for decades and claimed that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had tried to defeat and humiliate Ambedkar in the 1952 and 1954 elections. He also alleged that attempts were made to stop him through manipulation of the electoral rolls.

The BJP leader said the Nehru-Gandhi family gave itself the Bharat Ratna while keeping Ambedkar away from the honour. He added that it was only under the Vajpayee government that Ambedkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had further expanded this legacy by establishing the “Panchteerth,” giving Ambedkar’s life philosophy global recognition.

Nabin said Ambedkar dedicated his life to social reform, education and ensuring participation of every section of society. He added that through the Constitution, Babasaheb gave women their rights and gave voice to the last person in society. He said PM Modi is now taking forward that vision, along with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s idea of “Antyodaya,” and that Ambedkar’s ideals remain relevant even today.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar