Modi attacks Cong, says party tried to erase Ambedkar's contribution

NEW DELHI, DHNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a veiled attack on the Congress, saying political parties seeking votes in B R Ambedkar's name tried to erase his contributions in nation building for several decades.

"For years, efforts were made to suppress the ideas of Baba Saheb (BR Ambedkar) and erase his contributions in nation-building. But such people failed to wipe out his ideals from people's memory. It will not be wrong if I say that more people are still influenced by Ambedkar's ideas than the family for which such efforts were made," Modi said.

The prime minister was speaking at the inauguration of Ambedkar International Centre for Socio-Economic Transformation.

Modi, who laid the foundation stone of the centre in April 2015, dedicated it to the nation, saying it will play "a key role" in the dissemination of Ambedkar's teachings and vision.

He, however, lamented that the proposal to establish the Centre was pending for the last 23 years, saying the idea was conceived in 1992.

"Nothing happened for 23 years. When our government came, we not only laid its foundation but also dedicating it to the nation today. It is a different matter that they are thinking more of Baba Bhole than Babasaheb. Even that is all right," he said, taking a jibe at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.