Amid Dalit Fury on SC/ST Act 'Dilution' Row, PM Modi Says 'No Other Govt Honoured Ambedkar'

New Delhi, Apr 4: A couple of days after Dalit groups across the nation marked their dissent over the alleged dilution of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of politicising the legacy of Dr B R Ambedkar over the past 60 years.

Modi claimed no erstwhile governments at the Centre had paid as much tribute to Ambedkar as compared to the incumbent BJP-led regime.

In an apparent jibe at the Congress, which has ruled the most of the past six decades, the Prime Minister said, "Everybody was always ready to do politics in the name of Baba Saheb. But nobody gave him the kind of respect and paid tributes to him as much as this government did."

The remarks of Modi came while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the Western Court annexe here in the national capital.

Modi said the government would dedicate Ambedkar's 26, Alipur Road house, where he lived till his death, to the nation on April 13 on the eve of his birth anniversary.

Meanwhile, the caste divide intensified earlier in the week as clashes were reported in various parts of the nation during the Bharat Bandh called by Dalit organisations.

The bandh was held to oppose the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the SC/ST Act which allows the accused to seek anticipatory bail, apart from making a preliminary inquiry mandatory for registering an FIR.

The Centre has filed a review petition at the top court seeking roll-back of the changes made to the Atrocities law by the two-judge bench in its March 20 order.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 04, 2018 06:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).