Congress raps govt for asking X to delete Shah’s controversial speech; demands his resignation

New Delhi: Congress today condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party government for asking the social media platform ‘X’ to remove the controversial speech of Home Minister Amit Shah made in the parliament where he had insulted Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

The party reiterated that Shah had committed an unforgivable crime for which he must apologize to the nation and resign.

Addressing a press conference here today, Congress spokesperson and Chairperson of the Social Media and Digital Platforms Ms Supriya Shrinate disclosed that the Congress party leaders, several MPs, party’s official handle including herself, had received an email from the ‘X’, saying that the government of India had asked it to delete Shah’s speech.

However, she added, the ‘X’ had refused to delete it in the spirit of freedom of speech. She asked Shah if he thought there was nothing wrong with his speech, and why has his ministry asked the ‘X’ to delete it.

She made it clear, it was the original speech and it was not edited or distorted. Besides, she also showed the 34-page unedited text of his speech available on the Rajya Sabha website where in he clearly says, that “it has become a fashion to mention the name of Dr. Ambedkar and if they (the opposition leaders) take the name of God those many times, they will get to heaven for seven births”.

The Congress spokesperson said this was completely insulting and disrespectful towards Dr Ambedkar, who had given the constitution to the country. She said Shah revealed the same mindset of his ideological ancestors who always opposed Dr Ambedkar and condemned him as anti-Hindu.

Shrinate also condemned the BJP and its ‘X’ handlers for distorting a picture of the Congress leaders carrying the photographs of Dr Ambedkar while protesting against Shah’s insult of him. She pointed out how on the BJP ‘X’ handle Dr Ambedkar’s picture was replaced with that of George Soros, whom the BJP calls anti-national.

She insisted how dare the BJP replace Dr Ambedkar’s picture. This is the same ease with which they think they can replace India’s constitution.

Reiterating her party’s demand that Shah must apologize to the nation and tender his resignation, Shrinate said, the Congress party will not be intimidated or cowed down with such arm-twisting tactics by the BJP.

She added that BJP leaders like Amit Shah or their official social media accounts are displaying the same disregard and hatred towards Dr Ambedkar that their forefathers and the RSS have always had.