Protests Rage Across the Country Condemning Amit Shah’s Insulting Remarks Against Ambedkar

On 17 December, during the discussion on the Journey of the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah belittled the legacy of Ambedkar, saying, “Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have secured a place in heaven).”

Widespread protests erupted across India against the Union Home minister for his derogatory remarks about Dr B.R. Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. Across the country, CPIML, AISA, RYA, AICCTU, and AIPWA led demonstrations, effigy burnings, and marches to demand Amit Shah’s resignation and a public apology by Modi government.

On 18 December, CPIML MPs Raja Ram Singh and Sudama Prasad joined the INDIA bloc MPs in Parliament to condemn Amit Shah’s offensive remarks against Ambedkar.

In Delhi, on 18 December, AISA activists staged a protest at Delhi University, burning Amit Shah’s effigy and demanding accountability for the insult to Ambedkar’s vision. The Delhi Police responded with violence, detaining several protesting students. Protesters condemned the BJP-RSS for their "anti-constitutional and Manuvadi mindset," reiterating their commitment to protecting the ideals of social justice and equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, on 19 December, CPIML and AISA activists burned Amit Shah’s effigy at various locations, including Bakipur, Patna Sahib, Digha, and Danapur. At Jakkanpur near the Gaya line crossing, CPI(ML) senior leaders K.D. Yadav and Kamlesh Sharma led a march culminating in the effigy’s burning. Protesters declared that the BJP’s mask of “constitutional respect” had been exposed and vowed to resist any attack on Ambedkar and his ideals. Protests also took place in other districts of Bihar, including Saharsa, Jehanabad, Buxar, Arwal, Begusarai, and Madhubani, as part of a three-day statewide agitation led by CPI(ML).

Similar protests were held in Uttar Pradesh’s Allahabad, where AISA members, led by State Executive President Manish, marched from Swaraj Bhawan to Balsan Crossing, holding Ambedkar’s portraits and placards. They called for Amit Shah’s immediate resignation. The protests extended to rural areas, with workers and farmers joining the outcry. At the Phulpur IFFCO factory, contract workers held a gate meeting on 19 December, condemning Amit Shah’s statement and demanding his resignation. Comrade Devanand led the demonstration, highlighting the BJP’s disdain for the rights of marginalised communities.

In Sonbhadra, CPI(ML) Polit Bureau member Ramji Rai and State Secretary Sudhakar Yadav addressed a gathering in Shivdwar village after garlanding Ambedkar’s statue. They announced a week-long campaign (20–26 December) among workers, the rural poor, and agricultural workers to expose the BJP and its conspiracy to destroy the Constitution and its legacy.

In Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, CPI(ML) members protested at Randhir Verma Chowk, burning Amit Shah’s effigy and highlighting the Modi government’s attempts to dismantle Ambedkar’s vision of a socialist, secular, and egalitarian India. The party’s State Secretary Manoj Bhakt stated that Amit Shah and the BJP’s hostility towards Ambedkar stemmed from their desire to replace the Constitution with Hindutva’s Manusmriti. “Ambedkar represents the aspirations of Dalits, tribals, minorities, and women. Amit Shah’s statement is an affront to millions of Indians who cherish Ambedkar as the architect of modern India,” he said.

On December 21, AIPWA along with other women’s organisations held a protest in Delhi against the derogatory statement made by Amit Shah. AIPWA leader Shweta Raj said that Ambedkar’s principles remain an indomitable barrier against Hindutva’s regressive ideology. She asserted that people of India will not allow the Manuvadi rule and ideology to throttle Ambedkar’s constitution and his legacy of social justice.

The movement transcended state borders, with protests reported in Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, and Uttarakhand. At Freedom Park in Bangalore, AISA activists and other organisations burned Amit Shah’s effigy, denouncing his insult to Ambedkar. In West Bengal and Odisha, demonstrations saw similar effigy burnings and fiery speeches condemning the BJP’s Hindutva agenda.

As the BJP faces mounting backlash over Amit Shah’s comments, the CPIML and other left parties, in a meeting held on 22 December, have called for a joint nationwide protest on 30 December to resist the BJP’s attack on India’s constitutional values and Ambedkar’s legacy.