Senior AAP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, on Tuesday accused the BJP of sidelining the legacy of BR Ambedkar by replacing his portraits with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in key government offices, including the Delhi Chief Minister’s office and the Assembly.
Atishi questioned whether the BJP considered Modi to be “greater” than Ambedkar and criticized the suspension of AAP MLAs for raising slogans in Ambedkar’s name while no action was taken against BJP MLAs who chanted Modi’s name.
“BJP has replaced the portrait of Dr. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar with that of PM Narendra Modi. Does the BJP think that PM Modi is greater than Dr. Ambedkar? When AAP MLAs raised slogans in support of Ambedkar, they were suspended. But when BJP MLAs raised Modi’s slogans, no action followed. This shows the BJP’s disdain for Dr. Ambedkar,” Atishi said after her suspension from the Assembly.
She also claimed that Ambedkar’s portraits in the Delhi Secretariat, Assembly, and ministerial offices had been replaced by images of the Prime Minister. “Do they believe that the Prime Minister is greater than Babasaheb Ambedkar and can take his place?” she asked.
Questioning the BJP’s intentions, Atishi added, “Has the BJP developed so much arrogance that they believe Modi can replace Baba Saheb Ambedkar? We will continue our protest until Ambedkar is given the respect and place he rightfully deserves.”
AAP MLA Mukesh Ahlawat echoed Atishi’s sentiments, accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit and anti-Sikh. “They insulted Baba Saheb and Bhagat Singh ji. This exposes their mentality,” Ahlawat said.
Tensions escalated in the Delhi Assembly when Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 12 AAP MLAs, including Atishi and Gopal Rai, following uproar ahead of the tabling of the CAG report. The protests intensified outside the Assembly, with AAP members raising slogans and carrying posters of BR Ambedkar.
