Amid a row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday said that Amit Shah has gone mad, and he should give up politics and resign.
Lalu Yadav's takedown of Amit Shah came after the Union Home Minister, replying to the Constitution debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, said it had become a "fashion" for the Congress to take Ambedkar's name.
"Amit Shah has gone mad. He must have hatred for Babasaheb Ambedkar. We condemn this madness of his. Babasaheb Ambedkar is great. He should renounce politics and leave," Lalu Yadav was quoted as saying by news agency ANI in its report.
Earlier, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav accused Shah and the BJP of being "anti-constitution" and spreading hatred.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar is our fashion and passion. He is also our motivation and inspiration. We will not let anyone insult Babasaheb Ambedkar. These people are anti-constitution who spread hatred, and the language used in Parliament is condemnable," Yadav told media.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manickam Tagore moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, seeking an apology from Amit Shah. "He (HM Amit Shah) insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar inside Parliament. Therefore, today we have moved an adjournment motion for his apology as well as resignation from the cabinet," he said.
The Congress and the BJP clashed after Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress for frequently invoking the name of BR Ambedkar.
"Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven)," Shah said in a swipe at the Congress.
The Congress accused Shah of disrespecting Ambedkar. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded his resignation and called for a public apology. Congress members, joined by other opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, protested in the Parliament premises, holding photographs of Ambedkar.
Source: India Today