BJP honours Ambedkar's legacy, Cong ignored him: Dy CM Maurya

Varanasi: Bharatiya Janata Party has consistently honoured Dr B R Ambedkar's contributions and has worked to preserve his legacy for future generations, while the Congress ignored him during his lifetime, said deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya while talking to reporters here on Monday.

Maurya said that five key sites associated with Ambedkar's life were identified and developed as ‘Panchteerth,' including his birthplace in Mhow (Madhya Pradesh), place of education in London, site of initiation in Nagpur, site of Mahaparinirvana in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, where his memorial is located. On September 30, 2015, the Narendra Modi govt issued a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Ambedkar's life and work, ensuring his legacy is remembered nationwide.

Maurya said that the BJP's actions to honour Ambedkar's memory reflect its commitment to his vision of justice, equality, and an inclusive society. Ambedkar envisioned an India valuing justice, equality, and unity, a dream the BJP is building upon for the nation's future. In 2015, under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the BJP govt made the historic decision to observe November 26 as Constitution Day, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution by India's Constituent Assembly.

Maurya said that under PM Modi's leadership, five historic amendments promoted social and gender justice, including granting constitutional status to the OBC Commission, reservation for economically weaker sections, and 33% reservation for women in legislatures. These reforms marked a historic step towards a more inclusive India. The abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 was a historic move, restoring property rights for women and ensuring reservation benefits for tribal communities, ultimately aligning the region with India's constitutional values.

He highlighted that the BJP introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019, granting citizenship to minorities facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, with most beneficiaries being from Dalit and tribal communities. He stated that the Modi govt made historic reforms in India's legal framework by replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code with the Indian Justice Code, eliminating the 160-year-old colonial laws, and taking significant steps towards decolonising India's legal system through the Indian Justice Code, Indian Civil Protection Code, and Indian Evidence Act.

The BJP govt passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, criminalising the practice of triple talaq, said Maurya. This law aligns personal laws with the constitutional principles of gender justice, equality, and fairness. This bold reform demonstrates the BJP govt's unwavering commitment to empowering women and upholding the fundamental values of the Constitution.

He said that the BJP is working towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code, advocated by Ambedkar. The UCC ensures equality and uniformity in personal laws for all communities, providing a common legal framework for matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, aligning with the goal outlined in Article 44 of the Constitution, promoting secularism and gender justice.

Maurya said that in the 1952 Lok Sabha elections, Congress and Communist leaders, under Nehru's direct supervision, fielded Babasaheb's PA Narayan Rao Kajrolkar as a candidate to defeat Dr Ambedkar. In the 1954 Bhandara by-election, Congress again attempted to keep Dr Ambedkar out of Parliament by fielding Kajrolkar. Nehru personally campaigned against Dr Ambedkar in the by-election, reflecting his hostility towards him. Despite Dr Ambedkar's significant contributions, the Congress govts did not honour him with the Bharat Ratna. Instead, in 1970, Congress awarded the Padma Bhushan to Narayan Rao Kajrolkar, who defeated Dr Ambedkar in the 1952 election.

Maurya said that the Indian Constitution underwent 106 amendments, with 75 of them occurring during Congress rule, indicating that Congress repeatedly altered the Constitution for political gain.

Congress frequently used Article 356 to dismiss opposition-led state govts and impose central rule, resulting in 88 instances of President's rule, undermining state autonomy.