A video of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has gone viral on X, with claims suggesting that he referred to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as an “enemy of Dalits.” The 12-second clip shows Maurya addressing a press conference, sparking controversy online.
Sharing the video, AK Stalin wrote, “This is Keshav Prasad Maurya. Listen to him carefully; he is calling Baba Saheb an enemy. How vile he is! This wretch should be beaten with a shoe. Despite being from a backward community, he is opposing Baba Saheb.”
ये केशव प्रसाद मौर्या है, इसे ध्यान से सुनो ये बाबा साहब को दुश्मन बता रहें है।
— A.K. Stalin (@iamAKstalin) December 25, 2024
ये कितना नीच है, इस नीच को जूता से मारा जाना चाहिए, पिछड़े समाज का होकर बाबा साहब का विरोध कर रहा है।#बाबा_साहब_हमारे_अभिमान पर ज्यादा से ज्यादा ट्वीट करें. pic.twitter.com/uvqnRBENDE
Saibpal Pandit stated, “Shame alert! Babasaheb Ambedkar is an enemy of Dalits and backward classes : Keshav Prasad Maurya, UP DCM the BJP leaders never respect Babasaheb Ambedkar.”
🚨🚨…SHAME ALERT
— Saibpal Pandit (@PanditSaibpal) December 25, 2024
Babasaheb Ambedkar is an enemy of Dalits and backward classes : Keshav Prasad Maurya, UP DCM
The BJP leaders never respect Babasaheb Ambedkar. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UneDTC7pbr
Shyam Yadav wrote, “What did the school minister say Baba Saheb the enemy of Dalit backward classes?”
क्या बोल गये स्कूल मंत्री
— Shyam Yadav (@shyamyadav2408) December 25, 2024
बाबा साहेब दलित पिछड़ों के दुश्मन? pic.twitter.com/ALtAvp5Kp1
Atul Londhe Patil asserted, “What high thoughts do the BJP people have about Baba Saheb Ambedkar ji. See a sample of this.”
बाबा साहब अंबेडकर जी के लिए कितने उच्च विचार रखते है भाजपा वाले
— Atul Londhe Patil (INDIA Ka Parivar)🇮🇳 (@atullondhe) December 25, 2024
इसका नमूना देखिए 👇
भाजपा नेता केशव प्रसाद मौर्य pic.twitter.com/VSYG8Kl1fL
The claim was also shared several other handles like journalist Amit Yadav, Krishna Kant, Vishal Kanojia, and Changing India.
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Fact Check
To verify the viral clip, we conducted a keyword search and found a report by Patrika News. According to the report, the viral clip was recorded during a press conference held by Keshav Maurya on Tuesday at the Circuit House in Bareilly. It was also found that the clip has been taken out of context. The report stated that when asked about allegations of insulting Baba Saheb Ambedkar, he responded that the Congress and Samajwadi Party are the real enemies of Baba Saheb and Dalits.
Furthermore, we searched for the complete video of the press conference. On the YouTube channel of The Leader Hindi, we found a 12:14-minute video. At the 7:14-minute mark, Maurya stated, “Congress and the Samajwadi Party (pause) are enemies of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dalits, and backward communities.”
He went on to elaborate his point, asking, “If Congress is protesting, my question to them is: Why was Dr. Ambedkar made to represent West Bengal in the Constituent Assembly instead of his home state? Why wasn’t a dedicated memorial established between his birthplace and the site of his passing? Why wasn’t Dr. Ambedkar awarded the Bharat Ratna during Congress rule? Why did no Congress leader offer condolences after his demise? Why did Congress leaders ensure his defeat in elections? Congress has historically been an enemy of Dr. Ambedkar.”
Speaking about the Samajwadi Party, Maurya added, “Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan once mocked Dr. Ambedkar’s statue, saying that the pointing finger of the statue symbolized Ambedkar claiming land up to that point. In Karhal, Dr. Ambedkar’s statue was vandalized, and a Dalit girl was beaten simply because her family voted for the BJP. These incidents highlight the anti-Dalit mindset of the Samajwadi Party.”
Conclusion: The viral clip misrepresents Maurya’s statements. In his speech, he criticized the Congress and Samajwadi Party for their alleged historical and political actions against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Dalit community. At no point did he describe Dr. Ambedkar as an enemy of Dalits.
| Claim | Keshav Prasad Maurya called Dr. Ambedkar an enemy of Dalits and backward classes. |
| Claimed by | Social media users |
| Fact Check | While speaking at the press conference in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, stating that both parties are enemies of Ambedkar, backward classes, and Dalits. He further alleged that Congress had prevented Ambedkar from joining the Constituent Assembly and did not award him the Bharat Ratna. He added that both Congress and SP have insulted Ambedkar. |
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