Lucknow: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has announced a nationwide protest on December 24 in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar. BSP president Mayawati expressed that the remarks have deeply hurt the sentiments of Dalits and the deprived sections of society, who revere Ambedkar as a "messiah" and the "Father of the Constitution."

In a statement on Saturday, Mayawati reiterated her demand for Shah to retract his comments and issue an apology. “Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar is worshipped like a god for empowering the marginalized through the Constitution. Amit Shah’s remarks have insulted his legacy, and the community is rightfully agitated,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Mayawati further added that the BSP, as a follower of Ambedkar’s ideology, will hold peaceful demonstrations at district headquarters nationwide if the demand remains unmet. “The BSP remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of Dalits and marginalized communities, which is the truest form of respect for Babasaheb,” she said.

The controversy stems from Shah's comments during a Constitution Day debate in the Rajya Sabha, where he criticized the Congress for excessively invoking Ambedkar's name, stating, “It has become a fashion to keep invoking Ambedkar... Had they taken God’s name so many times, they would have secured heaven for seven rebirths.”

The BSP’s protest plan aligns with similar agitations by the Congress, which has also criticized Shah’s remarks. The protests aim to highlight what Mayawati calls an attack on Ambedkar's legacy and the sentiments of the Dalit community.