Assam Congress Intensifies Protests Against Amit Shah Over Ambedkar Remarks

The Assam Congress on Tuesday vowed to continue its protests against Union Home Minister Amit Shah until he issues a public apology and steps down from his position. The party, led by its state president Bhupen Kumar Borah, staged demonstrations across several locations, including Guwahati, Tezpur, and Goalpara. Prominent leaders like Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, and Debabrata Saikia, Leader of the Opposition in Assam, were at the forefront of these protests.

Addressing party workers, Gaurav Gogoi condemned Shah’s remarks about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, describing them as a reflection of the ideological stance of the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha, which, he alleged, have never truly recognized the Indian Constitution. Gogoi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent on the matter, accusing him of hypocrisy for publicly displaying respect for the Constitution while allowing his colleagues to insult its architect.

Gogoi reiterated the Congress’s demand for Shah’s resignation, emphasizing that the protests would continue until accountability was ensured. Memorandums addressed to President Droupadi Murmu were submitted by Congress leaders across various districts, including Kamrup Metropolitan, where Saikia and four senior leaders personally delivered the document.

The controversy stems from Shah’s remarks in the Upper House of Parliament on December 17, where he suggested that repeated mentions of Ambedkar’s name had become a trend. Shah’s comment, equating this repetition to invoking a deity for divine rewards, has drawn widespread criticism from the Congress and other opposition parties.

In Tezpur, Bhupen Kumar Borah led the ‘Ambedkar Samman March,’ joined by thousands of party workers. Borah highlighted the symbolic importance of placing a large portrait of Ambedkar in the Deputy Commissioner’s office, calling it a reaffirmation of the Congress’s respect for the Constitution and its creator.

Borah submitted the memorandum in Sonitpur, further emphasizing that the Congress’s commitment to upholding Ambedkar’s legacy would not waver. The Assam Congress has signaled its determination to sustain the protests, asserting that Shah’s comments represent a broader disregard for constitutional values.