Cong behind the poll defeat of B R Ambedkar: Advani

Aiming to dent Congress’ traditional vote bank -- the SC community in Madhya Pradesh -- senior BJP leader and NDA’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani accused the grand old party of adopting tactics which “ensured” defeat of Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in post-Independence polls.

Aiming to dent Congress’ traditional vote bank -- the SC community in Madhya Pradesh -- senior BJP leader and NDA’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Sunday accused the grand old party of adopting tactics which “ensured” defeat of Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in post-Independence polls.

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“After Independence, when the first government of the country was taking shape, at that time Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru gave priority to give berth only to Congressmen in it. But Gandhiji advised him to include scholar leaders like Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Dr Ambedkar in the government,” Advani said addressing the BJP’s Scheduled Caste Mahasammelan here.

“Though Dr Ambedkar was later made chairman of the committee formed for framing the Indian Constitution in which he had ensured that all sections of society are protected, Congress at the time of elections adopted such tactics which ensured his defeat in the polls,” Advani claimed.

“Unhe Congress ne Parajit Karvaya (He (Ambedkar) was defeated by the Congress),” Advani charged.

Advani also termed the “incidents of disrespect shown by Congress towards Ambedkar as the party’s political vendetta against the Dalit messiah”.