Amid Dalit protests, PM Modi takes a dig at Congress, says 'don't drag Ambedkar into politics'

Pic courtesy: PIB

New Delhi: In the wake of protests by Dalit groups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said no regime had honoured BR Ambedkar as his government had.

"We are walking on the path shown by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. At the core of Dr Ambedkar's ideals are harmony and togetherness. Working for the poorest of the poor is our mission," he said at the inauguration of an annexe building at Western Court that acts as a transit accommodation for newly elected lawmakers.

Widespread protests had taken place on Monday in different parts of the country over Supreme Court order on SC/ST Act.

"No government has, perhaps, given respect to Babasaheb the way our government has. Instead of dragging him into politics, we should all try to walk on the path he has shown us," PM Modi added.

He also said that it was his government that completed the Ambedkar international centre though the idea was conceived when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the PM.

The 26, Alipur road house where the Dalit icon died would be dedicated to the nation on April 13 on the eve of his birth anniversary, he said. Hitting out at the UPA, PM Modi pointed out that the previous government had dragged its feet on the project for years.

There are two places in Delhi, which are associated with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, on whom the Vajpayee Government had made crucial decisions. It was our Government that got the opportunity to work on them and pay tributes to Dr. Ambedkar: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 4, 2018

We are walking on the path shown by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. At the core of Dr. Ambedkar's ideals is harmony and togetherness. Working for the poorest of the poor is our mission: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 4, 2018

Normal life was thrown out of gear on Monday in more than ten states, most of them BJP-ruled, with widespread violence during the protests called by Dalit organisations with poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan bearing the maximum brunt.

On Tuesday, the apex court had declined to stay its recent order on the SC/ST Act. On the other hand, the government maintained that it was not responsible for any dilution of the Act and said that it was fully committed to protecting the interests of the backward communities.

(With PTI inputs)