Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Meeting Erupts in Chaos Over Amit Shah's Remarks on Dr. Ambedkar

A general meeting of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation descended into chaos on Tuesday as Congress and BJP councillors clashed over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr. BR Ambedkar. The altercation, which turned physical, followed a heated exchange among Congress, AAP, and BJP members. The controversy started after Anil Masih, a poll officer involved in the tampering of ballot papers during the Chandigarh mayoral polls, accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being "out on bail" in connection with the National Herald case. This sparked tensions, escalating into a full-blown brawl during the meeting.

The scuffle began when Congress and AAP councillors passed a motion demanding Shah’s resignation for comments he made about Dr. Ambedkar during a debate in the Rajya Sabha last week. In response, BJP councillors accused Congress of disrespecting Dr. Ambedkar, particularly during the tenure of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The war of words quickly turned physical, as seen in a viral video from the meeting. CCTV footage showed councillors engaged in a scuffle.

The BJP quickly hit back, accusing Congress of attempting to tarnish Amit Shah’s image by misinterpreting his speech in the Rajya Sabha. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad led the charge, calling out Congress for what he described as “drama” and “hypocrisy.” He stated, "The Congress, which always insulted BR Ambedkar during his lifetime, is now pretending to honour him. This hypocrisy must stop." The BJP demanded an apology from Congress for its alleged historical mistreatment of Dr. Ambedkar.

In response, Congress launched a weeklong nationwide campaign titled "Ambedkar Samman Saptah" to honor Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy. Party leaders and workers have been organizing marches and press conferences, focusing on his contributions while also demanding accountability for Shah’s controversial remarks.

The controversy over Amit Shah’s comments has sparked protests in Parliament as well. Opposition parties, including Congress, have accused Shah of disrespecting Ambedkar, a charge which the BJP denies. Tensions reached a boiling point last week, resulting in violent scuffles between MPs from the Treasury and Opposition benches. Two BJP MPs, Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, sustained injuries during the protests. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also alleged that BJP MPs physically pushed him while he was attempting to enter Parliament, further escalating the situation.​