Bengaluru, April 14 (NationPress) Addressing the BJP's allegations regarding the Congress party's supposed disrespect and offense towards B. R. Ambedkar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted on Monday that the first Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru, did not oppose the architect of the Constitution.

“While the BJP today criticizes Jawaharlal Nehru, it must be noted that Nehru never opposed Ambedkar. If he had, he wouldn’t have appointed him to draft the Constitution. When the Hindu Code Bill was presented, Nehru backed it. Certain factions within the nation thwarted its execution at that time, but Nehru made efforts to realize its provisions during his administration,” the Chief Minister remarked during the inauguration of the birth anniversary celebrations of the great humanist Babasaheb Ambedkar at the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the same forces – Manuvadis – who opposed Ambedkar’s Constitution and were implicated in Mahatama Gandhi’s assassination are now attempting to appropriate him.

“Shortly after the Constitution was enacted, ‘The Organiser’ magazine published pieces criticizing the Constitution. Nowadays, they assert that the Congress defeated Ambedkar, but it was Savarkar and Communist leader S.A. Dange who were accountable for his electoral loss, as Ambedkar himself indicated in a letter,” he said.

He noted that purely for political advantage, the BJP is now trying to depict Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Ambedkar as part of their legacy.

“It should be remembered, Ambedkar stated, ‘I was born a Hindu, but I will not die a Hindu’. He sought to reform Hinduism, but upon realizing it was futile, he embraced Buddhism, a faith of humanity and equality,” Siddaramaiah remarked.

The Chief Minister asserted that the government is committed to following the mantra of education, organization, and struggle as advocated by B.R. Ambedkar and will earnestly strive to establish the type of society he envisioned.

“Even before the Constitution was enacted, Ambedkar cautioned us about entering a society rife with contradictions. He emphasized that to achieve the ideals of the Constitution, inequality and untouchability must be abolished. As long as the caste system persists, true equality and the elimination of untouchability will remain unattainable. Without Ambedkar, universal access to education would not have been achievable,” he stated.

He remarked that as the budget expands, allocations to SCSP/TSP must also increase, adding that the BJP government has reduced them.

The Chief Minister also asserted that to realize Ambedkar’s vision, the Congress government has introduced guarantee schemes that have boosted the purchasing power of citizens.

“It is unjust that educated individuals are becoming more casteist. The aim of education should not be to foster casteist sentiments. Muslims must not be deprived of education or opportunities. Thus, in accordance with the Constitution, we are ensuring opportunities for all impoverished individuals across various castes and religions. Yet, for this, the Congress is being accused of appeasing Muslims,” he stated.

He further asserted that the Congress-led Karnataka government is adhering to the path Ambedkar laid out for creating a diverse nation and a society founded on brotherhood.

The Chief Minister also announced the establishment of a Constitution Chair at the University of Mysore and the erection of a magnificent statue of Ambedkar in Bengaluru, surpassing the one in Andhra Pradesh.