Session on Ambedkar: Opposition plans to 'hold up the mirror’ to Modi government

NEW DELHI: As the NDA government makes a subtle pitch for Ambedkar’s legacy by holding a two-day special sitting of Parliament to commemorate his 125th birth anniversary and anniversary of the adoption of the draft Constitution, a group of Opposition parties plans to use the House discussions for ‘holding up the mirror’ to the Modi government by arguing its 18-month tenure amounted to ‘serial violations’ of the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Leaders of the Congress, JD(U), Left parties and RJD are part of this counter move and may rope in more parties. These parties want the two-day proceedings to go beyond, “mere paying of token tributes to Ambedkar and Constitution”.

After a meeting of Congress floor leaders at 10 Janpath, party’s Rajya Sabha deputy leader Anand Sharma told ET: “During the two-day Parliament sitting to pay tributes to Ambedkar and reaffirm commitment to the Constitution, the Houses will have to discuss how the PM and his ministers, despite having taken oath in the name of Constitution, have brazenly allowed continuous assault on the very principles enshrined in the Constitution.”

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav wants the special sitting to discuss whether “the spirit of Gandhi-Ambedkar Pune Accord was been upheld” and also RSS chief’s call for review of “constitutionally-guaranteed reservation policy”.

“Whether episodes from Dadri-to-Bagwat amounted to upholding Constitution and whether the inflammatory statements made by many ministers and BJP MPs, that violated the principles of Constitution, will be discussed,” said JD(U) MP KC Tyagi.

CPI’s D Raja said: “We object to the unilateral way the government has decided on the sitting. This government should answer why RSS and other Sangh outfits routinely violate the principles of the Constitution and teachings of Ambedkar.”

If the ruling side insists on Houses passing a resolution, the Opposition parties plan to demand that their concerns on ‘violation’ of Constitutional principles be incorporated in it.