Patna (Bihar) [India], June 16 : Amid the political controversy surrounding Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, disrespecting BR Ambedkar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday accused him of "insulting" the Dalit icon and demanded an apology from him.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said, "RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has revealed his true mindset towards Dalits... He has insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar. He must apologise to the Dalits of the country for this act of disrespect. Not just an apology -- he should go to the banks of the Ganga and repent for his actions..."
Singh's remarks come amid an ongoing political row over Lalu Prasad Yadav's alleged disrespect toward BR Ambedkar during the former's birthday celebration, where Yadav had allegedly kept Ambedkar's picture near his feet.
Earlier on Sunday, June 15, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary hit out at the RJD chief on the issue, accusing him of displaying arrogance.
He further slammed the RJD chief, noting that no one has seen such an arrogant leader to date and that Yadav and his party workers should apologise for the disrespect shown to Ambedkar.
"No one has ever seen a leader as arrogant as Lalu Yadav to date. If he or any of his workers make a mistake regarding Babasaheb Ambedkar, they should apologise. He is arrogant. He continues to act arrogantly and humiliate everyone. Such arrogant leaders should abandon their pride," Choudhary said.
Earlier, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain slammed the RJD, accusing them of showing disrespect to anyone other than their chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
He alleged that the RJD chief had placed Ambedkar's picture near his feet during his birthday celebration, noting that it was "not acceptable" to insult Baba Saheb in the guise of his birthday celebration.
"On one side, Lalu Yadav talks about social justice, and on the other, they insult Babasaheb. Celebrate your birthday, but what message do you want to convey by keeping Babasaheb's picture near your feet? It is not acceptable to insult Babasaheb under the guise of celebrating his birthday," Hussain said.
"RJD does not respect anyone other than Lalu Yadav. They are just insulting Babasaheb, and it has become a habit of his; he has become addicted (to insulting Ambedkar). The people of Bihar will answer to this," he further charged.
These political developments come while the Assembly Elections are expected in Bihar later this year.