Ambedkar accuses Congress of indulging in soft Hindutva

The Asian Age.

Metros, Mumbai

Ambedkar, however, has formed a front with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.

Prakash Ambedkar

Mumbai: Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar has issued a final ultimatum to the Congress, saying that the alliance would be forged only after the Congress promises to bring the RSS under the ‘framework of the Constitution’. He also accused the Congress of indulging in ‘soft Hindutva.’

In a letter addressed to Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Mr Ambedkar stated that the “draft to bring the RSS in the framework of the Constitution would be the basis of discussions over seat sharing.” “The RSS propagates Hindutva and thoughts of Manusmriti. To keep this country secular, it should be brought into the framework of the Constitution. It is the responsibility of all secular parties to control non-constitutional organisations like the RSS,” he said.

Mr Ambedkar also said that the Congress was subtly projecting itself as a soft Hindutva party, which, he said would shrink the space for secular thoughts. “The party, which once used to follow thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, is now turning out to be a soft Hindutva party,” he stated.

The Congress has appealed Mr Ambedkar to join hands with the like-minded parties from Maharashtra to take on the BJP in Lok Sabha elections. Mr Ambedkar, however, has formed a front with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.

Mr Ambedkar also defended his alliance with the AIMIM, which was opposed by the Congress claiming the Owaisi-led party had supported the Razakars, the Nizam’s militia which had fought against the merger of the Hyderabad province with India.

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