The Ambedkar Once Excluded from the Constituent Assembly Is Now Congress’s ‘Save the Constitution’ Face

National New: The Congress today speaks loudly about saving the Constitution, but in the past, it opposed Dr. Ambedkar, blocked his proposals, and politically left him isolated and cornered. Even as the Congress today invokes Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy to position itself as a defender of the Constitution, its historical record tells a different story—one marked by resistance, reluctance, and political marginalization of the very man who drafted it. In the 1930s, when Dr. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for Dalits, the Congress strongly opposed the idea.

Mahatma Gandhi went on a hunger strike, which escalated tensions. Under immense pressure, Ambedkar was compelled to sign the Poona Pact, based entirely on Congress’s terms. Many in the Dalit community still see this as a coerced compromise. This event marked the beginning of a deep ideological rift between Ambedkar and the Congress.

Ignored Until Politically Necessary

Despite its importance, the Congress initially did not include Dr. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly. He managed to enter through Bengal with the support of the Muslim League. Only after Partition did the Congress elect him from Bombay and appoint him as Chairman of the Drafting Committee. This happened only when it became politically unavoidable to ignore his stature. Until then, the Congress had repeatedly sidelined him.

Differences in the Nehru Cabinet came to light

When Ambedkar became law minister, his proposals still faced opposition within the Congress government. He advocated for reservations and the Hindu Code Bill, but Nehru and his cabinet created roadblocks. The bill, especially the one dealing with women's rights, was heavily diluted. Upset by the resistance, Ambedkar resigned from the cabinet in 1951. His resignation reflected Congress's reluctance to embrace social reform.

Try to defeat in elections

Congress not only opposed Ambedkar's ideas but also sought to defeat him politically. In the 1952 and 1954 elections, the party fielded strong candidates against him. To weaken the Scheduled Castes Federation, Congress pushed its own Dalit leaders. As a result, Ambedkar’s political base began to shrink. Congress's strategy was clear—marginalize independent voices that challenged its dominance.

The Constitution was tampered with

While Congress now claims to defend the Constitution, it has amended it multiple times to serve its interests. Nehru’s First Amendment in 1951 restricted freedom of speech. During the Emergency, Indira Gandhi introduced the 39th and 42nd Amendments, altering the Constitution’s core structure. Article 356 was misused to topple state governments led by opposition parties. Had Ambedkar been alive, he likely would have fiercely opposed such misuse.

The Mandal report was suppressed

The Mandal Commission submitted its report in 1980, but Congress governments chose to sit on it. Both Indira and Rajiv Gandhi avoided implementing it. The party delayed key decisions on caste census and reservations. Eventually, in 1990, it was the Narasimha Rao government that partially enforced it. Ironically, the same Congress now advocates “as much population, as much right.”

Dalit leadership has become just a sham

By appointing Mallikarjun Kharge as party president, Congress aimed to send a strong message. However, real power is still believed to rest with the Gandhi family. Many in the Dalit community view this move as symbolic rather than substantive. Meanwhile, the BJP has launched the Panchtirtha scheme in Ambedkar’s name and elevated Dalits to top constitutional positions. This is why many do not take Congress’s “Save the Constitution” campaign seriously.