On the occasion of BR Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary, there was a slugfest as political parties scrambled to pay homage to the intellectual giant who drafted India’s Constitution.
Addressing rally in Ambedkar’s birthplace Mhow in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, Modi generally stuck to praising Ambedkar and announcing development works. In between these remarks, he squeezed in some barbs at the Congress.
He lambasted the Congress for not having developed places associated with Ambedkar in all the years since independence.
He said: “Some persons are distressed why Modi is doing all this. This is a matter of our dedication and conviction. We believe that social harmony can be achieved only by following the path shown by Babasaheb. I feel proud to work at the feet of Babasaheb.”
In her turn, Mayawati cautioned Dalits against BJP’s “designs”.
Addressing a gathering in Lucknow, Mayawati said even if the BJP appoints people from backward castes as their leader like Modi, she said those leaders will remain “a bonded labourer” of the “casteist and communal RSS”.
The BJP or the RSS can make any Dalit or backward the Prime Minister or Chief Minister but he cannot do anything good for his people... He will always remain a bonded labourer of the BJP or the RSS,” she said.
Continuing her attack on PM Modi she said although he identifies himself as an OBC, he does not do enough for their upliftment.
“This is evident in the government of Narendra Modi who does not tire of saying he is an OBC... Leave alone doing anything for his caste, he has not done anything for tea-sellers though he has had free tea from them,” she added.
On the same occasion, Congress president said, "One of the greatest icons of modern India, Dr Ambedkar's contribution is spread across every field of national development."
"His faith in democracy, which he shared with Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and other stalwarts of the freedom movement, is one of his proud legacies to our country," she said in a message reported PTI.