A major debate on the legacy and significance of Babasaheb Ambedkar formed the premise of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the opposition INDIA bloc and the ruling NDA alliance were at daggers drawn to each other. Before the 2024 elections were held, the opposition claimed that the BJP aims to change the constitution over the slogan given by the BJP, “ Ab ki baar 400 par”. It appeared that the strategy succeeded as the ruling party returned with only 242 seats.
However, the most recent example of the controversy regarding the architect of the constitution was in December last year, when the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, among others, claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks were meant to degrade his legacy. With four months to this episode, the ruling party has launched various initiatives to celebrate the legacy of BR Ambedkar.
The birth anniversary of Babasaheb is celebrated on 14th April, but the run-up to the celebrations began a few days ago. With a cleanliness drive launched on Sunday with a focus on cleaning the statues of BR Ambedkar throughout the country and lighting them up, it also launched the “Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Marathon” in Lucknow. A padayatra to celebrate his legacy was led by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in Patna.
The JD(U) in Patna celebrated the occasion with the organisation of “Bhim Samvad”. The Congress and the other opposition parties also organised a trail of events on the occasion. The SP is planning a week-long succession of events named “Swambhiman Samman Samaroh”. In the event, the party, along with Samajwadi Baba Saheb Ambedkar Vahini, will recognise Dalit leaders and felicitate them with awards. Akhilesh Yadav additionally unveiled a state of the leader at Etawah.
Congress, on the other hand, has come up with a programme of “Jai Bapu, Jai Samvidhan”, where all district units of the party will pay floral tribute to B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.
Everyone has done their bit to honour the legacy of the minority leader and the “Father of the Constitution”, despite parties adding a political colour to it, the importance of the event is universal and stands the same for all citizens and countrymen.
