AICC resolution took forward Ambedkar's ideas of social justice, says Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday hailed BR Ambedkar's role in creating the Constitution and said the resolution passed by the recent All India Congress Committee (AICC) session made demands aimed at taking forward the right for social, economic and political justice that the Constitution has guaranteed to the citizens. On the other hand, he said, the RSS and BJP were only doing lip service to Ambedkar's idea of justice.

"The Constitution is a gift from Ambedkar to citizens as it gives them the right of social, economic and political justice. In the AICC session, we have taken this forward. We have moved the ideas for social justice in the AICC session," Kharge said on the occasion of Ambedkar's birth anniversary.

Kharge cited the AICC session's demands for a nationwide caste census, lifting reservation cap beyond 50%, pitch for implementing the UPA regime's policy decision on reservation in private educational institutions, seeking a sub-plan for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and sub-quota with women's reservation in legislature as five demands in line with social justice.


Responding to PM's criticism of the Congress' treatment of Ambedkar, Kharge said, "The Modi government takes the name of Ambedkar but is not ready to fulfil his aspirations and wishes. They only pay lip service."

Kharge said that in a letter Ambedkar had blamed (Communist leader) SA Dange and (Hindu Mahasabha's ) VD Savarkar for his defeat in the 1952 general election but left out a third name, Congress strongman SK Patil, who was also blamed for Ambedkar's defeat.