Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, paid tribute to Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament on Saturday on the occasion of Mahaparinirvan Diwas, which marks the 70th anniversary of Ambedkar’s death. He said Ambedkar’s ideas and the Constitution he created must be protected by every citizen.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Rahul Gandhi described Dr Ambedkar as a national icon whose thoughts continue to shape India’s democracy and society. “Ambedkar ji is an icon. He showed a path to the entire country, he gave us the Constitution. So we remember him and protect his ideas and the Constitution. The Constitution of every Indian is under threat. We protect it, the citizens protect it,” he said.
Later, in a post on X, he repeated his message and said Ambedkar’s legacy of equality, justice and human dignity strengthens his resolve to defend constitutional values. He wrote that this legacy inspires the country’s ongoing struggle for a more inclusive and compassionate India.
The 70th Mahaparinirvan Diwas event was organised by the Dr Ambedkar Foundation at Prerna Sthal inside the Parliament House complex. The public was allowed to offer floral tributes at Ambedkar’s statue, and Buddhist monks chanted during the ceremony. The foundation, set up in 1992 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, works to promote Ambedkar’s ideas and implement programmes based on his vision.
