A day before the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim and Jai Samvidhaan’ public meeting in Marnataka’s Belagavi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his “anti-national” comments on the freedom movement and once again demanded his apology. The Congress general secretary and communications incharge also alleged that the Constitution is under assault and hit back at the BJP and RSS of insulting Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Br Ambedkar.
Congress will be holding the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim and Jai Samvidhaan’ public meeting in Karnataka’s Belagavi that was postponed on December 27 following the death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ramesh said, “Tomorrow, the INC’s (Indian National Congress) ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ rally will be held in Belagavi. This was to take place on December 27, 2024 but was postponed due to the passing away of Dr. Manmohan Singh. It was at Belagavi that Mahatma Gandhi had taken over as Congress President on Dec 26, 1924.”
“Mahatma Gandhi is being insulted. Dr. Ambedkar is being attacked. The Constitution of India and its values are under assault,” he alleged. Ramesh said that the Belagavi rally is a reaffirmation of the INC’s steadfast resolve to preserve, protect, and promote the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar. “This will be followed by a similar rally at Mhow – Dr. Ambedkar’s janmabhoomi – on January 27,” he said. “Shri Mohan Bhagwat must apologise for the atrocious, anti-national statement he delivered on the freedom movement on January 14th 2025,” he said.
Reiterating its demand, Ramesh, who is also the Rajya Sabha MP said, “The Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) must resign and tender an apology for his atrocious remarks on Dr. Ambedkar in Parliament on December 17, 2024.” Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had dubbed the remarks of Bhagwst as “treason” and slammed him. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had also slammed Bhagwat for his comments on freedom movement and said that if he continues to make such statements then it will tough for him to roam freely across the country.
Last week, even Ramesh had described Bhagwat’s remarks that India’s “true independence” was established on the day of the Ram temple’s consecration as “anti-national” and demanded an apology over the statement. Bhagwat said the date of the Ram temple’s consecration in Ayodhya should be celebrated as “Pratishtha Dwadashi” as the “true independence” of Bharat, which had faced “para chakra” (enemy attack) for several centuries, was established on this day. Congress had also slammed Shah for insulting Ambedkar during the Winter Session of Parliament last month and demanded his apology.