Kamal Hassan on Ambedkar row: Will not tolerate his legacy being tarnished

Amid a row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on Dr BR Ambedkar, actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan on Thursday said that the ideas crafted by the architect of India's Constitution should inspire progress, rather than be misused to offend people's sentiments.

This remark came as Parliament witnessed a high-voltage drama, with BJP and INDIA bloc MPs holding protests over Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar.

Kamal Haasan urged Parliament to hold discussions on the ideas of Dr BR Ambedkar as part of commemorations marking 75 years since the adoption of the Constitution.

In a post on X, Haasan described Ambedkar’s contributions as the foundation of modern India. He said, “While Gandhiji freed India from foreign oppression, Dr Ambedkar liberated India from its own ancient shackles of social injustice.”

He emphasised the importance of protecting Ambedkar’s legacy and warned against its misuse. “Every Indian who proudly believes in and fights for Babasaheb's vision of a free and just India, where all are born equal, will never tolerate the great man’s legacy being tarnished,” he said.

Haasan called for a meaningful discussion on Ambedkar’s ideas in Parliament, saying that such discussions should inspire progress. “As a modern and moral global power, we should commemorate 75 years of the adoption of our Constitution with a meaningful discussion, debate, and dissection of Ambedkar's ideas in the esteemed halls of Parliament,” he added.