At a rally in Bihar, Prime Minister Modi criticizes Lalu Yadav for supposedly dishonoring B.R. Ambedkar.
In a fiery speech on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at RJD president Lalu Prasad, accusing him of disrespecting Babasaheb Ambedkar during his recent birthday celebrations. The PM didn't name Lalu directly, but his pointed remarks were clearly directed at the former Bihar CM.
A portrait of Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, was placed near Lalu's feet during the celebration. Lalu and his party, RJD, claim this was due to a camera angle, but the BJP-led NDA has been critical of this perceived disrespect.
PM Modi, addressing a rally in Siwan district of Bihar, commented, "Ambedkar was against dynasty rule. But they (RJD and its allies) don't seem to agree. So they have his portrait placed at their feet. On my way, I saw posters demanding an apology for this insult to Babasaheb."
He further stated, "But there has been no apology. This is because they hold Dalits in contempt. In contrast, Modi has Babasaheb in his heart and would like to keep his portrait close to his chest."
Lalu's child and political heir, Tejashwi Yadav, has remained defiant and has not seen the need for an apology. When asked about it, he said, "There was no insult to Ambedkar at our place. And has Union Home Minister Amit Shah apologized till now?"
The State Commission for Scheduled Castes has issued a notice to Lalu, warning him of legal action if he fails to respond within the stipulated time. The BJP, which will face off against the RJD in upcoming Assembly elections, has been strongly condemning Lalu's actions and even burned effigies of him.
National leaders like Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP allies like Chirag Paswan, a Dalit leader who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have also voiced their disapproval of Lalu's behavior.
As of the latest reports, Lalu has not issued an apology, and there is no indication that he will be doing so in the future. The controversy continues to cause a stir in Bihar politics.
In the midst of the ongoing controversy, policy-and-legislation regarding war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice Take a backseat in the face of the Bihar uproar, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders voice their disapproval towards Lalu Prasad's actions. General-news coverage highlights the continued lack of apology from Lalu, fueling the debate in politics.
