Yogi Adityanath Slams Congress, SP for “Disrespecting Ambedkar” and “Fostering Caste Divides”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday sharpened his attack on the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing both of disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and fueling caste-based divisions for political gain.

Speaking at a seminar in Gorakhpur under the Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samman Abhiyan, Adityanath alleged that while the opposition has now made “defending the Constitution” a key part of its election narrative, both parties had a history of sidelining Ambedkar’s contributions and legacy.

The BJP leader claimed that the repeated amendments made to the Constitution under successive Congress governments had left Dr. Ambedkar “agitated and disappointed.” He further alleged that Congress had initially tried to prevent Ambedkar from joining the Constituent Assembly, but his immense popularity and commitment to social justice ensured his place.

Adityanath also accused the Congress of fearing Ambedkar’s intellect and his staunch advocacy for the rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and for national unity.

“Today, Rahul Gandhi walks around flaunting a copy of the Constitution, but it’s the same party that disrespected Dr. Ambedkar when it mattered most,” Adityanath said, calling out the Congress for its failure to honor Ambedkar with even a single memorial during its long years in power.

“In contrast, the BJP not only established five significant memorials—Panchteerth—dedicated to Baba Saheb but also initiated the observance of Constitution Day on November 26, starting in 2015,” he added.

Turning his attention to the SP, Adityanath accused the party of attempting to erase Ambedkar’s legacy. He pointed out that the SP-led government had removed Ambedkar’s name from the Kannauj Medical College and altered the proposed name of a university in Lucknow from Kanshi Ram to one focused on Urdu, Persian, and Arabic studies.

He further claimed that under the SP’s rule in 2015-16, scholarships intended for Scheduled Caste students were arbitrarily discontinued.

Lashing out at both parties, Adityanath said: “The Congress and SP have always tried to incite caste-based conflicts to serve their political interests. An SP MLA insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji while praising Aurangzeb. Another SP MP glorified Babur, who demolished the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, while insulting Rana Sanga.”

The chief minister also accused opposition leaders of belittling national icons. “They even demeaned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while praising Jinnah—the architect of India’s partition, responsible for the atrocities committed against Hindus in Pakistan and Dalits in Bangladesh,” Adityanath alleged.

Invoking Ambedkar’s convictions, Adityanath claimed that the social reformer had advised people against converting to Islam under pressure and stood firm against religious persecution.

“During the Nizam’s reign, when villages were being burned by his Razakars, Baba Saheb supported the people. And it was Sardar Patel who liberated Hyderabad, ensuring the restoration of dignity and rights for its residents,” he said.

In a sharp attack on the SP’s record in governance, Adityanath recounted a visit to Kushinagar district, where he claimed that Dalit families were dying of starvation while SP-linked officials had seized their ration cards.

“At that time, the Samajwadi Party was in power, and rations meant for the poor were being siphoned off while the real beneficiaries starved,” the chief minister alleged.