PM Modi an \'Ambedkarite\'\, won\'t change Constitution: Athawale

PM Modi an 'Ambedkarite', won't change Constitution: Athawale

Press Trust of India  |  Mumbai 

and RPI (A) chief Tuesday said his party has "differences" with the RSS on the issue of but not with "Ambedkarite" Narendra Modi, and trashed the opposition's allegation that the Centre will alter the Constitution.

for Social Justice Athawale also claimed the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), led by Bharip Bahujan and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, will not be able to win a single seat in in the Lok Sabha polls.

"The supports the ideology of Babasaheb (BR Ambedkar). The RSS too supports the ideology of Babasaheb. But we do have differences with the RSS on the issue of Hindutva," Athawale said during an interaction with Marathi here.

"But there are absolutely no differences with Narendra who is an Ambedkarite. He (Modi) says he would not have become had Babasaheb's Constitution not been there," Athawale added.

Referring to Modi's statement, Athawale said the prime minister was not for changing the Constitution as is often alleged by some opposition parties including the

"The and the NCP have no other issue left but to allege that will change the Constitution," Athawale said.

To drive home his point that the was not "anti- Dalit", Athawale listed works the carried out to preserve the ideology of BR Ambedkar, including its efforts to set up a memorial of the Dalit icon in

Athawale claimed his party workers wanted him to contest forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, and that he had talked about filing nomination from the South Central seat, currently represented by Shiv Sena's

"But the did not consider the idea," he said.

He stressed that the RPI(A) would continue to be part of the BJP-led NDA.

Polling will be held in 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state in four phases next month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, March 19 2019. 21:50 IST