'Edited, Out-Of-Context Video Used For Political Gains': JD(U) Slams Congress, AAP On Ambedkar Row

Last Updated:December 21, 2024, 06:00 IST

Speaking with News18, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, national spokesperson and a senior leader of JD(U), highlighted the Congress’s 'long history of sidelining Ambedkar'

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu, key NDA allies, requesting them to come out and condemn the remarks of Amit Shah involving Dr BR Ambedkar. (File pic/PTI)

In the middle of the uproar in Parliament over Amit Shah’s remarks involving Dr BR Ambedkar, Janata Dal (United) has defended the union home minister, accusing the Congress of running an “edited and out-of-context" video to manufacture outrage and garner political sympathy.

The support of JD(U), one of the major partners in the Democratic Alliance, is significant because the party and its senior leaders including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar often emphasise their ideological connection with Dr BR Ambedkar’s teachings and particularly his focus on social justice, equality, and empowerment of marginalised communities.

Speaking with News18, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, national spokesperson and a senior leader of JD(U), highlighted the Congress’s “long history of sidelining Ambedkar", asserting that the party’s leaders are now opportunistically trying to claim Dr BR Ambedkar’s legacy for political gains.

‘Shah’s video edited to mislead public’

“The Congress, which humiliated Babasaheb Ambedkar on multiple occasions, is now shedding crocodile tears to garner sympathy. From opposing his draft Constitution to denying him electoral support, their hypocrisy knows no bounds," said the senior JD(U) leader.

The party also dismissed the controversy around Amit Shah’s speech, adding that his remarks were a factual recounting of Ambedkar’s struggles and how he was almost mistreated by the Congress during his lifetime.

“The video being circulated by Congress is heavily edited to mislead the public. They are only showing 12 seconds of the edited video and trying to imply a total out-of-context impression of Amit Shah’s speech. The context of Shah’s speech was to expose Ambedkar’s humiliation, not to disrespect him," Rajiv Ranjan Prasad added.

Arvind Kejriwal’s letter to Nitish Kumar

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, wrote to Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu, another key NDA ally, requesting them to come out and condemn the remarks of Amit Shah involving Dr BR Ambedkar.

Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, though, slammed Kejriwal for his “attempt to exploit the issue", despite not being in an alliance with the Congress. “Kejriwal’s selective outrage is another example of his political opportunism. While he writes letters to Nitish Kumar, he conveniently ignores Congress’s historical stand," he remarked.

JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar also launched a scathing attack on Kejriwal, saying the AAP convener was pained because Amit Shah was exposing the leader of his alliance (INDIA), his party, and his family. He said that the “misbehaviour" of the Congress Party and its leaders towards Baba Saheb is “unforgivable".

The JD(U), however, reiterated its commitment to Ambedkar’s teachings. “For us,

Babasaheb’s vision has always been and will always be the guiding light, not a tool for election-time posturing, as it is for the Congress," said Rajiv Ranjan Prasad.

News politics 'Edited, Out-Of-Context Video Used For Political Gains': JD(U) Slams Congress, AAP On Ambedkar Row