A heated exchange erupted during the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s general house meeting as Congress and BJP councillors clashed over Dr. BR Ambedkar's legacy.
The confrontation began when Anil Masih, the poll officer accused of tampering with ballot papers during the mayoral elections, targeted Congress and accused Rahul Gandhi of being out on bail due to the National Herald case. This sparked a brawl among Congress, AAP, and BJP members.
Congress and AAP councillors moved a motion demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In response, BJP members accused Congress of disrespecting Dr. Ambedkar, particularly during Jawaharlal Nehru's time as Prime Minister.
The BJP also claimed Congress was distorting Mr. Shah's recent Rajya Sabha speech to tarnish his image. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized Congress for allegedly staging a "smear campaign" against Shah. He accused the party of hypocrisy, stating that while Congress had insulted Dr. Ambedkar during his life, it was now trying to exploit his legacy for political gain.
The BJP demanded an apology from Congress for its historical treatment of Dr. Ambedkar. In response, Congress launched a weeklong nationwide campaign, "Ambedkar Samman Saptah," to honor Dr. Ambedkar's contributions. Party members are holding marches and press conferences to emphasize his legacy and hold Amit Shah accountable for his recent comments.