MHOW (MP), April 14: Hitting back at the Congress which has accused him of trying to “appropriate” the legacy of national icons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the party that ruled the country for decades should “repent” for “undermining” the legacy of the architect of the Constitution.
Addressing a rally on the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar at his birthplace here, Modi asked why Congress was getting perturbed when his Government was working ardently for fulfilling the vision of the dalit icon and said he would have felt proud to work at “the feet of Baba Saheb”.
Modi, who had faced attack from Congress for trying to “approporiate” national icons, asked why the successive Congress Governments did not develop the five places “panch teerth” associated with Ambedkar during their tenure.
The Prime Minister, who chose the occasion to launch the ‘Gram Uday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan’ (village self governance campaign), said it was inspired by Amdedkar, who was a farsighted votary of social harmony and modern technology.
Listing a number of measures that his Government is taking to carry forward the vision of Ambedkar including those for empowering the weaker sections, Modi said, “For so many years, the vision of Ambedkar was undermined.”
“Some people are distressed why Modi is doing all this. This is a matter of our dedication and conviction. We believe that social harmony can be achieved only by following the path shown by Baba Saheb. I feel proud to work at the feet of Baba Saheb.”
Referring once again to his humble origins, Modi said if the son of a woman, who used to fetch water in others’ houses could become Prime Minister, the credit for it goes to Ambedkar.
On his Government’s decision to construct a memorial at 26 Alipur Road in Delhi, which was the last home of Ambedkar, he asked the Congress why did it not do so in the last six decades.
“Why did you not do it in the last 60 years? When we are doing it, you are getting uneasy. You should repent over why you did not do this all these years,” the Prime Minister said stepping up his offensive against the Congress.
“Those engaged in vote bank politics thought of nothing else than dividing the society,” he said.
Making a pro-poor pitch, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of doing nothing on this count.
Seeking to blunt BJP’s efforts to ‘appropriate’ the legacy of Ambedkar, Congress president Sonia said at a rally in Nagpur earlier this week that “Congress had given Dr Ambedkar his due by appointing him as chairman of the Drafting Committee of Constitution”.
Tearing into the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS, she said “The right-wing outfit is bent upon destroying the democratic values, disturb secular fabric and alter Indian Constitution authored by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
“Some people have been calling themselves the messiah of the poor for the last six decades. The account of what they have done for the poor in last 60 years is shocking even as they keep talking of the poor day and night,” Modi said.
“Some people are troubled that why we are taking Baba Saheb’s name. We have taken refuge in Baba Saheb because Ambedkar advocated social unity, social justice and social harmony. That is why we are following him,” Modi said.
“BJP has made a memorial to Ambedkar (in Madhya Pradesh at his birthplace). Who stopped you? When we are following in the footprints of Ambedkar why are they troubled? Instead, they should repent now,” he said.
Modi accused the Congress of playing vote bank politics to divide the society.
“They portrayed themselves as the Messiah of poor. What have they done? he said without naming Congress.
He said that Ambedkar faced a lot of hardship, trial and tribulations but accepted them and marched ahead without feeling of vengeance.
Terming Ambedkar as a “great human being”, Modi said despite all odds, he drafted the constitution without any prejudice.
He said that he is inspired by Ambedkar as he did not get bogged down by difficulties.
Ambedkar being highly educated could have settled abroad but he returned to India and fought the evils.
He also highlighted the steps taken by his Government in the last two years like giving LPG connection to the poor and Jan Dhan Yojana.
Modi, whose Government has often been accused by Congress of having a corporate bias, said India’s development will not happen through 5 or 50 cities and industrialists and foundation of villages will have to be strengthened for sustainable development. He reaffirmed his commitment to doubling the farmers income by 2022.
Earlier, he paid floral tribute to Ambedkar at his birth place in Kalipaltan in Mhow cantonment town.
Modi is the first Prime Minister to visit Ambedkar’s birthplace, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
Ambedkar was born in the cantonment town of Mhow on April 14, 1891 and the State Government has built a grand memorial to him at his birth place in Kali Paltan area.
Modi had a look at the grand memorial and spent more than 15 minutes before heading for the public meeting. (PTI)
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