PM charges Congress with making attempts to demean Ambedkar, stall his growth

New Delhi, Mar 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a veiled attack on the Congress for allegedly trying to stall the northbound career graph of B R Ambedkar by stating that there were were many people around that time to stop his growth.
"Aisa bhi hua jab bahut logon ne Dr Ambedkar ka mazak uraya, unhe peecchey karne ki koshish ki
(There came a time, when people mocked at Dr Ambedkar, they tried to prevent his coming up the ladder), Mr Modi said in monthly radio broadcast Mann-Ki-Baat programme making a reference to Dr Ambedkar's birth anniversary that falls on April 14.
Without taking names, Prime Minister lamented that there were attempts by a section of people then to prevent this "son of the poor family" to achieve something big in life.
But he said, "India is grateful to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar for his vision for irrigation and port development" at a time when people in the country were hardly focused about road development only.
"Dr Ambedkar was the first person who saw Jal Shakti - importance of water - as a link to Rashtra Shakti (strength for country's growth and development)," Mr Modi said.
He said in contrast to the treatment meted out even to the likes of Dr Ambedkar - when poor and socially backward people were discriminated against - the 'New India' as envisioned by his government offers a totally different picture.
"The 'New India' vision offers a different scenario altogether. This will be a India which would belong to all the poor people, will belong to Ambedkars and backwards," he said and pointed out at the elaborate arrangements being made by the BJP and the government to observe 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' from April 14 to May 5 as a mark of tribute to Dr Ambedkar and also highlight various welfare measures for the uplift of the poorer and neglected sections. UNI