Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah | Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed an open letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing strong disapproval of Shah’s recent remarks about Dr B.R. Ambedkar during a Lok Sabha session on December 18, 2024. Siddaramaiah accused Shah of trivialising Ambedkar’s legacy by referring to it as an “addiction.”
In the letter, Siddaramaiah lauded Ambedkar’s contributions, stating, “Ambedkar is not an addiction; he is a daily remembrance and an eternal inspiration.” He criticised Shah for disrespecting Ambedkar’s memory in a Parliament functioning under the Constitution authored by him. Siddaramaiah urged Shah to refrain from offering clarifications or claiming misrepresentation, challenging him instead to stand by his words.
Highlighting Ambedkar’s role in shaping modern India, Siddaramaiah credited the Constitution for enabling social equality and empowering leaders from marginalised communities. “Without Ambedkar, I would not have become the Chief Minister. Leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, who reached the pinnacle of Indian politics, would have been confined to labour in factories,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its historical opposition to the Constitution, citing remarks by its leaders such as Hedgewar and Golwalkar. He argued that Shah’s comments reflected the BJP and RSS’s longstanding disregard for Ambedkar’s ideals.
The letter further took a dig at the BJP’s obsession with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labelling it an “addiction,” and questioned the party’s moral compass. “If the RSS cadre chanted God’s name as often as they chant Modi’s, they might earn salvation for their misdeeds in power,” Siddaramaiah remarked.
