JAMMU: Addressing a large gathering of party activists at Kakrayal, under Katra Mandal of Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly constituency, Balbir Ram Rattan, BJP spokesperson & former vice chairperson, charged Congress of ignoring the contribution of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and disrespecting him. He was speaking in a programme under 'Samvidhan Gourav Abhiyan', along with Rajinder Singh Chib, Co-Convenor of the Abhiyan, Sohan Lal, Mandal President, Rajinder Mengi, DDC, Reetu Thakur, Mahila Morcha District President and other leaders.
Balbir Ram Rattan said that the Congress ruled the country for decades together but had no concern towards giving due honour to Ambedkar, while alive and after his demise. "Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had no place in programmes and policies of the successive governments of Congress after independence", Balbir said, adding that the architect of the Constitution got recognition of his services only when BJP came in power at the Centre. He cited a number of instances of how the Modi government has, honestly and truly, honoured Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
While Congress honoured Jawahar Lal and Indira Gandhi with Bharat Ratna, it did not even consider Dr. Ambedkar for any kind of reward or honour, which itself speaks of how Congress ignored one of the most educated persons of his times, he said. Rajinder Singh Chib said that the Panchteerth built in memory of Dr. Ambedkar, itself stands proof that BJP and PM Narendra has given real respect to Ambedkar. He said that the Congress is now playing politics in the name of Ambedkar just for its political survival.
Rajinder Mengi said that whatever the people today see as monuments, memorials, museums etc dedicated to Dr. Ambedkar, all are the symbols of honour from the Modi government. Reetu Thakur spoke on Ambedkar's initiatives of empowering women. She said that Dr. Ambedkar was of the opinion that there should be no gender-based discrimination Sohan Lal said that Dr. Ambedkar’s vision and contributions were marginalized in the Congress times, which is a matter of shame. Party leaders Prabhat Singh, Subhash Bhagat, Tilak Raj, and Manohar Lal, also addressed the gathering.