Congress shocked as Prakash Ambedkar lauds KCR

Hyderabad: The Congress expressed reservations over Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, praising Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Describing it as humiliation of Dalits fighting for their rights in the state, Telangana Congress senior vice-president Mallu Ravi wondered how Rao who had come up with the idea of replacing the Constitution, that was drafted by Dr Ambedkar, was transformed into a good politician immediately after unveiling of the 125-foot-tall statue.

Speaking to mediapersons at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, the former MP recalled the controversy that Chandrashekar Rao had triggered by suggesting the replacement of the Constitution. “We inherited Ambedkar’s ideology. Rather than speaking on the injustice that the KCR government meted out to the Dalits, Prakash Ambedkar is praising him. This is humiliating for the Dalits (in Telangana). Prakash Ambedkar should give clarification on this,” Ravi demanded.

“We are not against the unveiling of the statue. But, if you recall, KCR is the same person who proposed to replace the Constitution, whose architect was Dr Ambedkar,” the Congress leader pointed out.

Ravi demanded that the government must disclose the details of Budget spending on Dalits. “How much has the BRS government spent since 2014 from SC/ST Sub-Plan funds?  How much did it carry forward,”