Congress ‘betrayed’ Ambedkar, marginalised: Modi in Haryana
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invoked the legacy of BR Ambedkar to launch a blistering attack on the Congress, accusing the grand old party of betraying the architect of the Constitution and stalling the country’s industrial and social progress for decades.
He accused the Congress of trampling upon the Constitution for political gains and power.
Defending the new Waqf law, Modi claimed the provisions introduced by the Congress in 2013 favoured land-grabbers who encroached upon properties belonging to weaker sections and widows.
The PM today flagged off a flight to Ayodhya from the Maharaja Agrasen Airport, Hisar, and also laid the foundation stone of a new terminal. In Yamunanagar, he laid the stone of a new 800-MW unit of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant.
At the rallies in Hisar and Yamunanagar, Modi claimed the Congress humiliated Ambedkar during his lifetime, ensuring his defeat twice and conspired to sideline him. “After his demise, the Congress even tried to erase his memories and eliminate his ideas," he said.
“If they (Congress) had truly followed Ambedkar’s path, why did India remain trapped in power shortage, poverty and joblessness for decades? Why did our Dalit, backward and marginalised youth never get access to industry-linked employment,” he asked.
He slammed the Congress leadership, saying if they were so concerned about the welfare of the downtrodden, they should have ensured that tap water reached the homes of SCs, STs and OBCs when the party was in power.
“In the past six-seven years, we have provided tap water connections to over 12 crore households. Today, 80 per cent households have tap water, and soon, the entire population will be covered,” the PM said.
He added that under Congress governments, even the access to banking services was out of reach of marginalised communities. “Now, these sections are the largest beneficiaries of Jan Dhan accounts,” he said.
Slamming the Congress, he accused the party of using the Constitution as a tool to retain power.
He emphasised that while the Constitution included a provision for a Uniform Civil Code (secular civil code), the Congress never implemented it. “We have enforced it in Uttarakhand, but those who once trampled the Constitution are now opposing it,” he said.
PM Modi also claimed that the Congress turned the reservation policy into a political tool rather than a means of empowerment. Referring to Karnataka, Modi said the Congress government there has extended reservation on religious grounds, depriving SCs, STs and OBCs of their share.
He recalled that Ambedkar had clearly opposed reservation based on religion during constitutional debates.
“This appeasement policy even harmed the Muslim community as it benefitted only a few hardliners while the majority remained poor and uneducated,” he said, terming the 2013 Waqf law amendment a political ploy.
“The Congress placed the Waqf law above the Constitution, dishonouring Ambedkar,” the PM said, adding that lakhs of acres under Waqf ownership should be used for the welfare of the poor.
He also highlighted awarding of the Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh under the BJP government as a mark of respect for his contribution.
Praising the Haryana Government, Modi said during the Congress rule, government jobs were “on sale," but under Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the recruitment was transparent.
Haryana Tribune