In its continued bid to woo Dalits ahead of looming Assembly polls in Karnataka, the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has come down heavily on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah just for not including Dr B R Ambedkar’s photograph in a government advertisement to mark Constitution Day.
BJP spokesperson and MLA S Suresh Kumar pointed out that in the advertisement put out by the Congress government in various newspapers, "Siddaramaiah's picture occupies the centrestage, with no picture of Ambedkar at all."
It seems that, for the Congress, Siddaramaiah is greater and bigger than Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, Kumar said.
He pointed out that, in the advertisement put out by the Government of India, the picture of Ambedkar was prominently displayed, while there was a small photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the bottom.
BJP general secretary Shobha Karandlaje said Siddaramaiah had insulted Ambedkar and demanded that he tender a public apology.
The chief minister refused to react to BJP's charges. "I cannot comment on everything that the BJP leaders say. They have no other work," Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah, however, utilised a Constitution Day event to target Pejwar Mutt seer Vishwesha Teertha Swami's statement at the Dharma Sansad in Udupi, seeking an amendment to the Constitution to protect cows, and also to do away with special provisions for the minorities. "Only those who do not believe in the Constitution make such remarks," Siddaramaiah said.
He was speaking after unveiling the plaque with the preamble of the Constitution written on it, to mark the Constitution Day at the Vidhana Soudha. The chief minister said the Constitution provides for equality and freedom to all. It also provides for right to religion, he said.
Siddaramaiah said, "The directive principles in the Constitution are applicable to all governments. But some have no respect for the Constitution. They do not believe in secularism. They encourge communal elements and instigate hatred between religions."
It could be recalled here that Ambedkar had not only renounced Hinduism but also had strongly opposed Sangh Parivar’s ideology till his last breath.
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