Congress govts did maximum insult to Ambedkar: Modi

On the 123rd birth anniversary, BJP leader slammed Congress for ignoring the plight of Dalits and backwards

Launching a scathing attack on Congress for seeking to pocket the credit of empowering Dalits, Narendra Modi today accused the Gandhi family of stopping implementation of rights given by B R Ambedkar and even "snatching" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's right of free speech.

On the 123rd birth anniversary of architect of the Indian Constitution Ambedkar, the BJP leader slammed Congress for "insulting him" and ignoring the plight of Dalits and backwards in the country.

"It is unfortunate that the Gandhi family has stopped the implementation of rights given by Ambedkar. You are now taking credit for giving rights and enacting laws but Soniaji and Shehzaadeji (Rahul Gandhi), can you tell me who has snatched Prime Minister's right of free speech. The country wants to know which lock you have put on Manmohan Singh's mouth," he said.

Modi's comments come against the backdrop of revelations made by former PM media adviser Sanjaya Baru in his book that suggest that Sonia Gandhi's instructions were sought for clearing all files and decisions were taken by her.

Reaching out to the Dalits, Modi said Rahul Gandhi was "insulting the chief architect of the Constitution and the god of Dalits by taking credits for giving rights and enacting laws in the country."

"Had Ambedkar not been there, then someone like me would not have been standing before you," he said and even slammed Jawahar Lal Nehru for refusing to buy even 100 copies of a book written by Ambedkar on Lord Buddha, saying the first Prime Minister of the country had a "poisoned mind" against Ambedkar.

Modi said the Congress governments did "maximum insult" to the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and did not give him Bharat Ratna which was given by the NDA government soon after it came to power.