Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday cautioned controversial saints and religious figures against making irresponsible comments about Dr BR Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
In a strongly worded statement, Mayawati said such individuals often make provocative remarks merely to stay in the spotlight despite lacking proper understanding of Dr Ambedkar’s immense contributions to the nation.
She said, “It would be better if such saints and sadhus, who lack proper knowledge about the Indian Constitution and Dr Ambedkar’s unmatched role in its making, maintain silence rather than make baseless comments.”
Urging religious figures to shed their caste-based prejudice, the BSP supremo stressed the importance of understanding why Ambedkarites reject the Manusmriti. “They must understand the reasons behind this resistance rather than act out of caste-based hatred,” she added.
Highlighting Ambedkar’s intellectual legacy, Mayawati noted that no religious figure making derogatory remarks could ever match his scholarly legacy. “Before making any comment, they should be mindful of their limitations in comparison to a personality like Baba Saheb,” she added.
Her statement comes in the wake of controversial comments by certain self-styled godmen in recent times, triggering widespread criticism from Dalit and Ambedkarite groups.