New Delhi, Nov 25, 2024 – Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday stated that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, was opposed to granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, as he believed it undermined the unity and integrity of the country. Meghwal was speaking at the ‘Constitution of India for Students’ event organized to mark the launch of a book.
The minister emphasized that Ambedkar had refused to pilot Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. According to Meghwal, Dr. Ambedkar was vocal in debates during the drafting of the Constitution and had spoken extensively on most issues. However, when it came to Article 370, Ambedkar expressed his strong opposition, arguing that it was detrimental to the nation’s unity.
Meghwal explained that Article 370 was passed in haste by the Constituent Assembly when Ambedkar was absent, as he had been hospitalized. He also pointed out that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, insisted on adopting Article 370, and another member of the drafting committee was assigned the task of pushing it through.
The Law Minister reiterated that Dr. Ambedkar was a true patriot who always put the nation’s unity first. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his role in the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which led to the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Justice (Retd) Hemant Gupta, a former Supreme Court judge, also spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of the Constitution’s directive principles, stating that while rights are often emphasized, the heart of the Constitution lies in what needs to be done for the country.
