AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday introduced a scholarship program named for Dr BR Ambedkar targeted at Dalit students in the lead-up to the forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections, following controversy over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments regarding the Dalit figure in the Rajya Sabha.
Kejriwal mentioned that he initiated the Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship scheme as a reaction to what he called Amit Shah’s “disrespectful” remarks regarding the father of the Constitution.
During a rally where he unveiled the initiative, Kejriwal stated that the Delhi government will finance Dalit students admitted to overseas universities if AAP wins the Assembly elections scheduled for February next year.
“The AAP will make certain that no Dalit student in Delhi has to give up their education at international universities because of financial constraints,” he stated.
He stated that Ambedkar was forced to halt his education halfway at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) due to a lack of financial resources. “He went home and organized finances, then returned to LSE to finish his studies,” he noted.
The ex-Delhi Chief Minister charged Amit Shah with ridiculing Ambedkar and stated that he and millions of Dalit icon supporters were offended by the remarks made by the Union Home Minister.
“Nobody would have thought that in independent India, someone would ridicule Babasaheb Ambedkar in Parliament.” In reaction to Amit Shah’s disrespectful comment, I am announcing this – “Dr Ambedkar Samman Scholarship,” he stated.
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The Ambedkar Row
A significant controversy broke out on December 17 when Amit Shah, during the Constitution discussion in the Rajya Sabha, remarked that it has turned into a “fashion” for the Congress to mention Ambedkar’s name.
The Congress criticized Amit Shah for his comments and called for his resignation. The BJP retaliated and charged the longstanding party with deceiving the public regarding the Union Home Minister’s remarks on the Dalit figure.
Amit Shah responded to the issue by claiming that his comments were misinterpreted and criticized the Congress for twisting his statements from Parliament and taking an anti-Ambedkar position.
