135th Ambedkar Jayanti: Prez, VP, PM Offer Floral Tributes As Nation Pays Homage To Chief Architect Of Constitution

New Delhi : India pays homage to the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, on his 135th birth anniversary today, with several functions being organised throughout the country to mark the occasion. This morning, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among other key political leaders, paid floral tributes at the statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Parliament House Complex.

Senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, also paid homage at the statue. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju, JP Nadda, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Piyush Goyal, along with Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and others, also commemorated the architect of the Indian Constitution.

"On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all fellow citizens," President Murmu said in a message on X.

Ambedkar's contributions across various fields would continue to inspire future generations to work with dedication towards nation-building, she said. "Ambedkar created a distinct identity despite facing extreme hardships and earned global respect through his exceptional achievements. He considered education an important tool for social change and empowerment of the downtrodden," the President said.

Paying tributes to Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, Prime Minister Modi said that it was due to his inspiration that the country was dedicated to realising the dream of social justice. His principles and ideas will strengthen and speed up the building of an 'aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant) and developed India, Modi said on X.

"On behalf of all the countrymen, I bow down to Bharat Ratna Pujya Babasaheb on his birth anniversary. It is due to his inspiration that the country is dedicatedly engaged in realizing the dream of social justice today. His principles and ideals will give strength and momentum to the creation of a self-reliant and developed India," PM said in his post.

In his message, Rahul Gandhi said Ambedkar's struggle for strengthening democracy and for equal rights of every Indian will "guide us in the fight to protect the Constitution".

"Respectful tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. His struggle and contribution for strengthening the democracy of the country, for equal rights of every Indian, for participation of every section, will always guide us in the fight to protect the Constitution," Gandhi said in a post on X.

Congress chief Kharge said his party takes an oath that "we will always remain committed to the protection of constitutional values and the protection of democracy".

"Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar gave us the countrymen the Constitution of India – based on the democratic values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity – which is the most powerful tool for social justice and inclusive development. He described inclusiveness as his ultimate duty for the progress and unity of the country and strongly stressed on protecting the rights of all. On his 135th birth anniversary, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to his ideas of social change and social justice. The Congress Party takes this oath that we will always remain committed to the protection of constitutional values and the protection of democracy," Kharge said in a post on X.

Ambedkar is recognised for his lifelong struggle for the empowerment of Scheduled Castes and his key role in drafting the Constitution. Born in a Dalit family in 1891, he was a brilliant student who went on to study abroad. The discrimination he suffered in Indian society made him a committed social reformer. He was also India's first law minister.