Mayawati stakes claim to Ambedkar’s legacy

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 30

Dalit leader Mayawati on Monday staked claim to the legacy of Dr  B.R. Ambedkar, saying she had to pay a "great price" for furthering his movement and teachings.

In a hard-hitting speech in the Rajya Sabha, the BSP supremo took on both the BJP and Congress for registering “false” corruption cases against her, not doing enough for the Dalit Samaj and not following Ambedkar’s teachings.

She also attacked the Congress for “letting down” Ambedkar during his lifetime. Reminding the Congress how they put up a candidate against him to stall his entry to the Constitution Assembly, Mayawati said it should stop making a show of its love for him.

Taking up the reservation issue and statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the same, she warned the Narendra Modi government against any such move, saying she would take to streets if any such attempts were made.

“Even now Dalits are being targeted," Mayawati said, reminding the government of the recent spat between Haryana minister Anil Vij and a woman IPS officer.

She also attacked the BJP on growing “intolerance” in the country. Supporting Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, she said instead of leaving India, he should follow the footsteps of Ambedkar.

Launching direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mayawati said what he said on Babasaheb Ambedkar on November 27 needs not be reminded to his followers who know his teachings well.

"It would have been better if the PM had taken some concrete steps for the uplift of the Dalit Samaj," she said during the discussion on commitment to India’s Constitution as part of the 125^th birthday celebrations of Dr Ambedkar

Mayawati also reminded the saffron government Ambedkar’s criticism of the Hindu dharma, saying Ambedkar had told the Shankracharya that he should ensure the betterment of the Dalit Samaj, which he could not achieve.