In Ambedkar’s birthplace, Dalits resent politics over Constitution, Muslims fear quota crossfire

In Madhya Pradesh’s Dr Ambedkar Nagar town, formerly known as Mhow, golden busts of Gautam Buddha and B R Ambedkar mounted on blue columns serve as a shrine for the Dalit community in the slum cluster of Rajendra Nagar.

Sitting inside the shrine, Divya Wahurwagh, 18, whispers a prayer for her admission in an LLB course, wishing to become a lawyer like her idol. “Dr Ambedkar was born in my village. He went abroad and studied. I also want to leave Rajendra Nagar. No one in my family has been able to leave this slum,” Divya said.

As per the 2011 Census, Scheduled Castes account for 13% of the population in Dr Ambedkar Nagar, where the Dalit icon was born and spent three years before his family shifted to Maharashtra.

But amid the discourse around Ambedkar and the Constitution, Divya says the BJP and Congress are playing a “dangerous game”. “It’s sad that people are playing politics in Ambedkar’s name. Of course the Constitution won’t be changed, nor will reservation be given to Muslims,” she said.

Located 24 km from Indore, the town is part of the Dhar Lok Sabha constituency, which votes on May 13. Over the years, it has gained prominence with politicians making a beeline to it, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

In the ongoing Constitution debate, while Rahul Gandhi alleges the BJP wants to “throw away” the Constitution, PM Modi claims the Congress wants to “rob” reservation from OBCs and give it to Muslims.

The insecurities surrounding the reservation debate, in the context of the Constitution, has percolated across this region, where there is resentment among Dalits against both parties for playing politics over the Constitution.

Where once stood the Dalit icon’s home is now a spacious hall with