Cong demands sacking of IGNCA chief

Congress today demanded sacking of Ram Bahadur Rai, recently appointed chief of the government- funded Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, who stoked a controversy by questioning B R Ambedkar's role in framing of the Constitution.
Party spokesman Ajoy Kumar also wanted BJP chief Amit Shah to apologise over the remarks of Rai, alleging that they showed the "hatred" of RSS and BJP towards the Dalits.
"Ram Bahadur Rai, RSS's ideologue, argues that Ambedkar had no role to play in drafting the Constitution, except to correct its language. Nothing can be further from the truth."
"In light of the comments made by Ram Bahadur Rai, we demand he be removed from his post at IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts," Kumar as also AICC SC department chief K Raju told reporters.

Raju alleged that Rai and others in RSS have demonstrated their "deep anti-Dalit attitude". He claimed that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants "Congress-mukt Bharat" what he really meant is that he wants a "Constitution-mukt Bharat".
"RSS and BJP hate the Constitution because it has kept Hindu Rashtra idea at bay in this country for the past seven decades and would continue to do so in times to come," Raju claimed.
Rai, who was appointed as IGNCA chairman in April, was quoted by a magazine as having told it in an interview that Ambedkar's role was limited and whatever material B N Rau, a civil servant, gave to him, Ambedkar would correct the language.

Asked if Ambedkar's role was then a myth, Rai replied, "Yes, myth hai, myth hai, myth hai (yes, it is a myth, it is a myth, it is a myth). It is part of identity politics.