The government today accused the opposition of distorting the remarks of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Talking to the media in Parliament House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that a small clip of Mr Shah’s speech in the Rajya Sabha is being circulated, distorting what he said. The minister condemned it, alleging that it was the Congress that had insulted Dr. Ambedkar. He also came down heavily on the opposition for disrupting proceedings of both Houses of Parliament over the issue.

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Singh Thakur also slammed Congress over the issue. He told the media outside Parliament that Mr Shah has exposed how Congress has always been against SC, ST, and OBC communities. He alleged that Dr Ambedkar was not conferred with the Bharat Ratna during Congress rule.

Earlier in the day, opposition parties staged a protest in the Parliament House Complex against Mr Shah’s remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar. The members from Congress, DMK, Left, RJD, AAP, and some other parties joined the protest, which was attended by senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK MP T. R. Balu, and Manoj Jha of RJD. Talking to the media, Mr Kharge hit out at the home minister over his comments. He alleged that through his remarks, Mr Shah had insulted the architect of the Constitution.

Rahul Gandhi also targeted Mr Shah for his comments. Talking to media outside Parliament, he accused the government of undermining the Constitution. Mr. Gandhi also alleged that the BJP is against Dr Ambedkar and his ideology.