B R Ambedkar

Law minister Meghwal slams Congress for not giving Ambedkar his due

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday slammed the opposition Congress for not giving B R Ambedkar his due and allegedly ensuring his defeat in the first Lok Sabha elections. Addressing the media here, Meghwal credited Ambedkar with the creation of the Reserve Bank of India as well as the Finance Commission but lamented that the Congress "which talks of the Constitution, never gave Ambedkar the due he deserved. He claimed the Congress made supporters of Ambedkar vote twice on ballot papers, making it invalid which led to his defeat. He said Ambedkar wrote to the Election Commission about the way elections were held but the poll body did not act. Meghwal said Ambedkar's representation to the poll panel was now available. He said the Alipore Road residence of Ambedkar here was turned into a memorial by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "But the Congress did nothing," he claimed. The minister also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the establishment of an ...

Constitution Day 2024: Epic story behind the drafting of India's charter

Debates over 167 days, 274 members, 36 lakh words -- that's what it took before the Constituent Assembly adopted the world's longest written constitution on this day in 1949. Every Article in the Constitution, which ran into 1.45 lakh words at the time, was debated by members of the Constituent Assembly. They sat for 11 sessions and 167 days over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days to frame the Constitution. BR Ambedkar, regarded as the chief architect of the Constitution, was assisted by members of the drafting committee he chaired. India's first president Rajendra Prasad was the first person to sign the document 75 years ago. It is the largest written constitution in the world and the first edition was neither printed nor typed -- it was handwritten and calligraphed in both Hindi and English. According to facts available on the Lok Sabha website and analysis of Constituent Assembly debates by the think-tank PRS India, the Constitution's first copy was handwritten by Pre

Govt to celebrate Constitution Day throughout the year to promote awareness

The central government will observe Constitution Day throughout the year, focusing on educating citizens about the members of the Constitution Drafting Committee, the pivotal role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and the contributions of the 15 women involved in drafting the Constitution.During this period, initiatives will be organised in every village to promote awareness of constitutional values and the legacy of these significant figures, stated Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Law & Justice, during a special press conference.Meghwal announced that tomorrow marks 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution. To commemorate this milestone, the year-long campaign 'Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swabhiman' will be launched. Efforts will be made to reach every district and village, with widespread recitation of the Preamble.Respect for the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has always been a core principle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision. Reflecting this ...

How Dalit divides and political ties create a complex battle in Maharashtra

In wake of Supreme Court's sub-classification verdict, SHREYAS UBGADE analyses how ideological divides and political alignments of Dalit groups make this a complex electoral battle in Maharashtra

Uddhav siding with those who insulted Balasaheb, Savarkar, says Amit Shah

Union minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was siding with the Congress, whose leaders have insulted Balasaheb Thackeray and Veer Savarkar. I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray if he can request Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to say two good words for Veer Savarkar, Shah said, after releasing BJP's manifesto for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls. Can any Congress leader say a few words in honour of Balasaheb Thackeray, Shah said. It would be good if the people of Maharashtra get to know those who have come out with the dream of forming an alliance government amidst such contradictions, he said. Shah said the BJP's Sankalp Patra' manifesto for the November 20 assembly polls is a reflection of the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra. An organization of Ulemas has demanded reservations for minorities, and the state Congress president Nana Patole acknowledged this, Shah said. Are the people of Maharashtra in favour of giving their right of ..

BJP, RSS want to get rid of Ambedkar's Constitution: Cong slams PM Modi

The Congress alleged on Friday that the BJP and the RSS "want to get rid" of B R Ambedkar's Constitution and replace it with one based on the ideology of the Manusmriti, and said that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "called the caste census an attempt to divide the nation". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have many grouses with the Constitution, and reservations for Dalits, Adivasis and Other Backward Classes (OBC) are among the primary ones. Ramesh's attack came after Modi accused the Congress of playing a dangerous game of dividing castes and communities. If the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes stay united, the Congress's politics will be over, the prime minister said in Dhule, addressing his first rally in Maharashtra for the November 20 Assembly polls in the state. "The Congress wants to pi

Cong slams PM's communal civil code remark, says 'gross insult' to Ambedkar

The Congress on Thursday took exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "communal civil code" remark, saying it was a "gross insult" to B R Ambedkar and alleged that the PM's capacity for "malice, mischief, and maligning" of history was on full display from the Red Fort. The Congress's denunciation came in the wake of Modi saying a "secular civil code" is the need of the hour as the existing set of laws was a "communal civil code" and discriminatory. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said, "A large section of the country believes, which is true also, that the civil code is actually in a way is a communal civil code. It discriminates (among people)." Slamming the prime minister, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "The non-biological PM's capacity for malice, mischief, and maligning of history knows no bounds. It was on full display today from the Red Fort." "To say that we have had a 'communal civil code' t

Rare first edition of Indian Constitution sold for Rs 48 lakh in auction

The rare edition of Indian Constitution, which contains printed signatures of its makers, including Dr BR Ambedkar, is one of only 1,000 copies made by the Survey of India Offices in Dehradun

Assertion & confrontation

Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Azad did talk to Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP) for some kind of adjustment

Gandhi, Ambedkar statues relocated to ensure Oppn can't hold protests: Cong

The Congress on Friday alleged that statues of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shivaji among others have been relocated within Parliament premises to ensure that Opposition parties cannot hold democratic protests, and said such "stunts" cannot save Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "unstable government" from falling. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh termed the Lok Sabha secretariat's explanation for relocating the statues as "wholly bogus", and said there has been no discussion with any political party on the matter. In a statement, the Lok Sabha Secretariat said Thursday that due to their location at different places in the Parliament premises, visitors were not able to see these statues conveniently. "For this reason, all these statues are being respectfully installed in a grand 'Prerna Sthal' in Parliament House premises. This 'Prerna Sthal' is being developed in such a way that the visitors coming to visit the Parliament complex view the statues of these great

Battleground 2024: Have no waaris other than Indians, says PM Modi

Addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Maharajganj, which will poll in the sixth phase on May 25, the PM said the poorest of the people nurse a desire to leave something behind for their heirs

No government can change Constitution drafted by Ambedkar, says Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday asserted that no government can change the Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar, and the Congress was spreading lies that the BJP plans to alter it. He was speaking at a campaign rally for Hemant Godse of the Shiv Sena, the candidate of the ruling alliance for the Nashik Lok Sabha seat. "No government can change the Constitution created by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Only its sections can be changed or amended. Congress has committed the sin of amending the Constitution 80 times. Despite that, they are spreading false propaganda that we will change the Constitution," he said. "Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas" is the mantra of the Narendra Modi government which has implemented various welfare schemes without discriminating against any community, Gadkari further said. The government has decided to create facilities for storage and processing of onions and grapes, two major crops in the Nashik region, the minister said.

India's consumption story is yet to address the caste discrimination issue

Ages-old bias could also be affecting what traditionally deprived communities earn

Politicians pay tributes to Ambedkar in MP to mark his birth anniversary

A large number of people and politicians paid tributes to mark the 133rd birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at his birthplace Mhow in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district on Sunday. MP's Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, leader of opposition in assembly Umang Singhar and local MLA Usha Thakur were among several politicians who also reached Mhow to commemorate the Constitution's chief architect. They garlanded the bust of Dr Ambedkar amid slogans praising the Dalit icon before returning without holding any political rally or public meetings due to the imposition of the model code of conduct ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A contingent of nearly 50 ex-servicemen, retired from the Mahar regiment of the Indian Army, gave a grand salute to Dr Ambedkar around 11.30 am. The MP government had opened a memorial of Dr Ambedkar at Mhow, about 25 km from the district headquarters, on April 14, 2008. Ambedkar Memorial Society secretary Rajesh ..

Cong always insulted Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, we honoured him, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Congress always insulted Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, but his government has honoured him. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad, Modi also said the Congress never recognised the contribution of adivasis (tribals), but the BJP government has honoured them. "The Congress always insulted Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, we have honoured him," Modi said on the birth anniversary of the architect of India's Constitution. Because of the Constitution given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, a tribal woman became the President of India, he said, referring to Droupadi Murmu's election to the country's top constitutional post. "The Congress is saying that if I become prime minister for the third time, the country will be in flames," Modi said targeting the opposition party. "The (opposition) INDI alliance is unable to decide in which direction the country should move," he said. The slogan of "Phir ek baar, Modi sarkar" is resonating across the country, t

Congress believes only one family has right over Bharat Ratna: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted the Congress and said the party believes that members of only one family has the right over the Bharat Ratna. Modi was addressing a gathering at a ground-breaking ceremony here for about 14,000 projects across the state worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore. "Just a few days ago, our government had the privilege of awarding Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh, the messiah of farmers. Honouring Chaudhary Saheb, the son of the soil of Uttar Pradesh, is an honour for crores of farmers and labourers of the country. But unfortunately, the Congress and its allies do not understand this," he said. "You must have seen that when (name of) Chaudhary Charan Singh was being discussed in the Parliament, how the Congress people made it difficult to even speak about Chaudhary Saheb. Congress people believe that the members of only one family has the right over Bharat Ratna," the prime minister said. He further said that the Congress did not confer Bha

VP urges assembly speakers to make constitution that carries all amendments

VP Dhankhar also expressed concern over the fact that the general public is clueless about the 22 miniature paintings that are an integral part of the Indian constitution

Amedkar's contribution not restricted to just Constitution: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said B R Amedkar's contribution to the country is not restricted just to the Constitution but also taking crucial and futuristic decisions over water resources and power. Speaking at an event to commemorate the 100 years of his book The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution', Pawar said Amedbkar deserves credit for preserving parliamentary democracy in the country. Amedbkar was a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council from 1942 to 1946, which was responsible for labour, water and power. The NCP chief said, The current generation is only aware of his contribution (as the chairman of the drafting committee) towards the Constitution. The four-time Maharashtra chief minister said Ambedkar also took crucial decisions on how to use water and build its infrastructure. He said the key decision to construct the Bhakra Nangal dam, built over the Sutlej river, and the Damodar Valley Corporation, a public sector powe

Only PM Modi gave true respect to Ambedkar: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

During this, the CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 102 development projects worth Rs 136 crore and distributed certificates to the beneficiaries of various schemes

Largest Ambedkar statue in North America to be unveiled on Oct 14

The largest statue of B R Ambedkar outside India is all set to be unveiled in Maryland on October 14, the organisers have said. The 19-foot statue, named Statue of Equality, has been made by renowned artist and sculptor Ram Sutar, who also built the statue of Sardar Patel installed in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The statue of Ambedkar, the key architect of India's Constitution, is part of the Ambedkar International Center (AIC) being built on 13 acres of land in Accokeek city of Maryland. This is the largest statue of Babasaheb outside India and has been installed as a part of the Ambedkar Memorial being constructed at this center, said the AIC. Large number of representatives of Ambedkarite movement and his followers are expected to attend the event from across the USA and other parts of the world, it said. According to the AIC, this memorial will serve to spread Babasaheb's messages and teachings and showcase a symbol of equality and human rights. Representatives from various countries