Congress leaders on Friday, 20 December 2024, placed photographs of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on their desks in the Maharashtra Assembly amid the party’s allegations that Union Home minister Amit Shah insulted the Dalit icon. This prompted deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to urge speaker Rahul Narwekar to allow him to put a similar photo on his desk. Pawar said Ambedkar belongs to everyone and even the treasury benches should be allowed to display his photographs.
The speaker said he had not allowed any member to put such photographs on their desks. Narwekar also asked the Congress leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut and Nana Patole, to remove the pictures. Congress’ Vijay Wadettiwar raised the vandalism of their party office in Mumbai.
How political parties can resort to hooliganism, he asked. Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers on Thursday vandalised a Congress office in Mumbai, claiming the grand old party had always insulted renowned social reformer Dr Ambedkar. As many as 14 protesters were detained from the spot, police said.
Also Read: FIR against Rahul is a symbol of govt’s desperation: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators had also placed photos of Ambedkar on their desks but removed them after the speaker’s objection. With the Congress leaders not removing the photos in defiance of the Speaker’s message, the members of the ruling Mahayuti also placed Ambedkar’s pictures on their desks. This prompted the Speaker to adjour.
