Activist groups in Bengaluru protest against Amit Shah's remarks on B R Ambedkar

Bengaluru: Around 100 people from various activist groups gathered at Freedom Park on Thursday to protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial statement, calling the act of chanting Ambedkar's name a "fashion".

The protest, organised by groups like Thamate Media, Dalit Vidyarthi Parishat, BU Research Scholars Association, Ambedkar Students' Association (GKVK), and All India Students' Association (AISA), demanded an immediate public apology and Shah's resignation for his remarks.

Shah sparked outrage with his comment, suggesting that repeatedly invoking Ambedkar's name had become a trend, adding that if god's name were chanted as often, one could achieve "seven lives in heaven".

In a statement, the organisers criticised Shah's remarks, stating, "Such comments aim to delegitimise Ambedkar’s legacy and the struggles of millions who continue to fight caste oppression in India."

They further added, "As the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah’s statement is unbecoming of a leader who is sworn to uphold the Constitution that Ambedkar painstakingly drafted. His words trivialise the historical and ongoing struggles of Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalised communities who see Ambedkar as a beacon of hope and resistance and his vision of social justice as a guiding force. This is not merely a political gaffe — it is an affront to the Constitution and the values of social justice it enshrines."

Police detain Congress workers who staged a protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in front of Congress Bhavan MH Ambarish Road (Race Course Road) on Thursday.

Police detain Congress workers who staged a protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in front of Congress Bhavan MH Ambarish Road (Race Course Road) on Thursday.