Congress ignored Ambedkar’s water conservation efforts: PM

Lauding BR Ambedkar’s contribution to the building of modern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the Dalit icon was one of the first to understand the importance of river waters for the country.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa river-linking project at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Modi said the major river valley projects in India were based on Ambedkar’s vision.

The Central Water Commission was also established due to Ambedkar’s efforts, the PM said, while noting that the previous Congress governments never gave Ambedkar due credit for his work in the field of water conservation and large dam projects.

Bemoaning that states continued to have disputes over the river waters even seven decades after Independence, the PM said “lack of intent and misgovernance” by previous governments came in the way of any concrete steps to resolve the issues. Modi said in the 21st century, only the nations with adequate and well-managed water resources could advance. The PM accused the Congress of ignoring Ambedkar’s contribution to the management of water resources at a time when the ruling BJP is facing a barrage of attacks from Opposition parties over alleged disrespect shown to Ambedkar by Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently while speaking in the Rajya Sabha.

Modi had earlier posted on X a series of messages defending Shah and accusing the Congress of resorting to “every possible dirty trick to obliterate the legacy of Ambedkar”.

Noting that today was the 100th birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee — celebrated as Good Governance Day — the PM said the previous Congress governments only made announcements but the benefits of its scheme did not reach people due to “lack of intent and casual implementation”.

Modi said good governance meant that citizens need not beg the government for what was rightfully their due. His government’s policy was to connect “100 per cent beneficiaries with 100 per cent benefits”, Modi said, claiming that this was the reason for the BJP’s electoral success in three consecutive elections.

Accusing the Congress of not completing projects even after laying foundation stones, Modi said, “Governance and the Congress do not go together”.

Besides laying the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa river-linking project, the country’s first project for interlinking of rivers under the national perspective plan, the PM also laid the foundation stone of 1,153 Atal Gram Sushasan buildings. These buildings will play an important role in the practical conduct of work and responsibilities of gram panchayats.