Ambedkar row: Kharge submits privilege motion against Shah

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday submitted a privilege notice against Union home minister Amit Shah for his remarks against BR Ambedkar.

- Press Trust of India

NEW DELHI:

In his notice submitted to the RS Chairman, Kharge alleged that the remarks made by Shah were an insult to the architect of the Constitution and amounted to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.

"I hereby give a notice of question of privilege against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs under Rule 188 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha),"" Kharge said in his notice.

Replying to the two-day discussion on 75 years of Constitution in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Shah attacked the Congress and alleged the opposition party repeatedly disrespected Ambedkar.

"It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar...If they had taken God's name so many times, they would have secured a place in heaven for seven lifetimes...," he said, before going on to add that India's first law minister was forced to resign from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.

Kharge said, "...it is well established that any misconduct in the presence of the House or casting reflections and making defamatory statements constitute a breach of privilege and contempt of the House," he noted.

Congress chief also claimed that the wording as well as the tone and tenor of the remarks made by the home minister "are clearly satirical and made in a very bad taste".