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Informist, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024

 

 

NEW DELHI – The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition parties on Friday accused each other of undermining the spirit of the Constitution. Initiating the debate in the Lok Sabha to commemorate the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the Congress of disrespecting the Constitution and its spirit. Singh alleged that the Congress has always tried to destroy the basic structure of the Constitution.

 

"These days, I see many opposition leaders keep the Constitution in their pockets. Actually, this is what they have learnt from childhood, they have seen their families keep the Constitution in their pockets for generations," he said. Singh also spoke about the incidents that happened in 1975 without using the word emergency. 

 

Singh accused the Congress of trying to hijack and appropriate the framing of the Constitution. "All the details about Constitution-making were hidden from the public. I want to clarify that our Constitution is not the gift of any one party, it is created by the people of India, in accordance with the country's thoughts and values--an unparalleled, transformative document," he said.

 

Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh criticised the Congress for misusing article 356 and toppling the state governments. "These people are talking about the Constitution. They imposed an emergency in 1975 at midnight to remain in power. All opposition leaders were put in jail, courts and media were gagged," he said.

 

On other hand, the opposition parties accused the government of trying to change the Constitution. The opposition members criticised the government over violence at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur. Opening the debate from the opposition side, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP of toppling governments and undermining electoral democracy.

 

In her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Vadra narrated a story of a king who would visit markets at nights in disguise to find out what the people of his kingdom talk about him. "The king of today changes his costumes but is scared of going to the people or facing any criticism," Vadra said taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She critised the prime minister over the government's failure to bring normalcy in Manipur, which has been struggling with ethnic violence since May last year. Vadra said that the country has never stayed in the hands of cowards for long. 

 

"Strength and struggle have built this country. The Constitution gives the people strength. Fear has its limits. This country will be run by courage, not fear. Never has this country been ruled by cowards for long. This country will rise and seek answers," she said. During her speech, Vadra also attacked the government for protecting industrialist Gautam Adani, who was indicted in the US court over charges of bribery and fraud. The Adani group, however, had called all the charges baseless. 

 

Another Congress member, Hibi Eden, said that today the Constitution was in danger, and quoted B.R. Ambedkar saying that "it is important to protect the Constitution, especially by those who are elected."

 

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the BJP and said he hoped that there would be no dreams to change the Constitution after this discussion. Yadav made a case for caste census in his speech. He spoke about communities suffering due to lack of representation and reservations. Yadav charged the government for taking care of only 10% of the population and ignoring the remaining 90%. Hailing the Supreme Court’s stay on lawsuits questioning the status of religious places, Yadav said the principles which search for a temple under every mosque do not want to maintain peace in the country.

 

Trinamool Congress’ Kalyan Banerjee said that the secular fabric of the country was under threat. "The necessary question today is whether the Constitution failed or whether we have failed the Constitution," he said.

 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Sachinanantham R. accused the BJP of attempting to change the Constitution. He alleged that the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh wanted to replace the Constitution with Manu Smriti.

 

The debate on the Constitution in the lower house will conclude Saturday with the reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Rajya Sabha will commence the debate on the Constitution on Monday. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to open the debate in the Upper House.  End

 

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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