Amit Shah’s 'symbolic appropriation and material destruction' of Ambedkar’s legacy: PUCL

By Our Representative 

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has issued a scathing statement condemning Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks during a Rajya Sabha debate commemorating the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution. Shah’s comments about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar have sparked widespread protests and a fiery debate about the government’s stance on the Constitution and the Ambedkarite legacy.

During the debate, Shah’s sarcastic remark—“It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar... If they took God’s name this many times, they would have secured a place in heaven”—has been criticized as belittling Ambedkar’s profound influence on India’s Constitution and his significance to marginalized communities. The PUCL described Shah’s tone as emblematic of the BJP’s and RSS’s “contempt” for those who uphold constitutional values and demand accountability from rulers.

In its detailed statement, PUCL highlighted what it called Shah’s “symbolic appropriation and material destruction” of Ambedkar’s legacy. While lauding BJP-led initiatives to establish Ambedkar memorials in locations significant to his life, the PUCL questioned the government’s commitment to Ambedkar’s ideals of fraternity, dignity, and social justice.

“Dr. Ambedkar himself was an iconoclast who prioritized public works like libraries and educational institutions over memorials,” PUCL noted, contrasting this with the BJP’s emphasis on symbolic politics.

The statement also pointed out the increasing violence against Dalits and persistent caste discrimination as evidence of the government’s failure to advance Ambedkar’s vision of equality.

The PUCL accused Shah of misrepresenting Ambedkar’s resignation from Nehru’s Cabinet, falsely attributing it to differences on Article 370 and foreign policy. In reality, Ambedkar’s resignation was primarily over the lack of progress on the Hindu Code Bill, a landmark social reform initiative aimed at dismantling regressive practices in Hindu law.

The organization also criticized Shah for ignoring the RSS’s historical opposition to the Hindu Code Bill. They cited archival statements from RSS-affiliated publications condemning the bill as contrary to Hindu culture.

PUCL emphasized Ambedkar’s lifelong struggle against the “orthodox” Hindu social order, which he believed perpetuated caste-based oppression. They referenced Ambedkar’s scathing critique of Hinduism as incompatible with liberty, equality, and fraternity—the core ideals of the Indian Constitution.

“Liberty, equality, and fraternity are anathema to the Hindutva framework, which prioritizes conformity, assimilation, and graded inequality,” the PUCL stated, accusing the BJP of undermining these constitutional principles.

Shah’s remarks have triggered protests across the country, with Dalit groups, student organizations, and civil rights activists taking to the streets. Demonstrators are demanding an apology and urging the government to recommit to Ambedkar’s vision of an inclusive, egalitarian society.

The PUCL concluded its statement by urging citizens to defend the Constitution from what it described as the “threats posed by Hindutva forces.” They called the protests a “wider awakening” to the dangers faced by India’s constitutional democracy.

As the controversy unfolds, the BJP has yet to issue an official response to the PUCL’s allegations. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have joined the chorus of criticism, accusing the government of attempting to appropriate Ambedkar’s legacy while dismantling the values he stood for.