Congress chose power over Constitution: Rajnath
A discussion in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of adoption of the Constitution on Friday turned into a game of scoring political points between leaders of the ruling BJP and the Congress-led INDIA bloc with speakers on both sides accusing each other of betraying the vision of the founding fathers.
PM to speak today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present in the House on Friday but will respond to discussions on Saturday when Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to speak.
Opening the special discussion, deputy leader of the House Rajnath Singh attacked the Congress for “routinely subverting the Constitution and now talking of saving it”.
He said, “Whenever the Congress was confronted with a choice between power and the Constitution, it chose power.”
Recalling instances of supersession of Supreme Court judges for the CJI’s post under late PM Indira Gandhi’s time — HR Khanna in 1976 and three others in 1973 — he said, “These were not assaults on individuals. These were assaults on the Constitution, sins to subvert the Constitution. I am surprised that the party that executed these sins today speaks of saving the Constitution.”
At one time during the hour-long address, Rajnath choked on the memory of being denied parole to attend his mother’s last rites when he was in jail during the Emergency. He said BJP leaders stood up against excesses of the Emergency, sacrificed for the Constitution, while the Congress used the Constitution as a “prop to advance political interests”.
Rajnath took a dig at Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for flashing copies of the Constitution during recent poll campaigns. “Some opposition leaders roam around with copies of the Constitution in their pockets these days. For generations they have seen family members carry the Constitution in pockets only. For the BJP, the Constitution is a living document before which we bow. It is not a matter of exhibition. It is a value system that reflects in our deeds,” Rajnath said in Rahul’s presence.
Earlier, the Defence Minister also accused the Congress of hijacking and appropriating the task of Constitution making, saluting the contributions of Pt Madan Mohan Malviya, Sardar Bhagat Singh and Veer Savarkar to these efforts.
Contrasting constitutional amendments under the NDA rule with those under the Congress, Rajnath said, “All amendments under the Modi regime have been done to strengthen constitutional values, social welfare and empower people. On the other hand, the Congress has amended the Constitution to silence critics or hide its wrong policies. Under Jawaharlal Nehru, the Constitution was amended 17 times; under Indira Gandhi 28 times; under Rajiv Gandhi 10 times, and under MM Singh seven times.” The BJP rule amendments he mentioned included abrogation of Article 370 “for national unity”; 10 per cent EWS quota “for economic justice” and Women’s Reservation Bill for “political empowerment of half the population”.
About the Congress, he said the party brought the first amendment in 1951 when even the first General Election had not concluded and it lacked the mandate.
“That amendment sought to silence a critical media,” Rajnath said questioning other Congress government-led amendments, including the 38th amendment brought to make the decision to impose the Emergency non justiciable, 41st amendment to grant immunity from criminal action to the President, PM and Governors and 42nd amendment to say that a seven-judge Bench was required to decide the legality of a law.
“Were these not brazen attempts of a dictator to distort the Constitution for personal ends? Today that same party is using the Constitution for propaganda. Whenever it was confronted with a choice between power and the Constitution, it chose power,” he said.
On Congress’ caste census agenda, he said, “We have no objection, but I urge them not to play politics. They should bring a comprehensive document on caste census, say which caste will get how much reservation. If such a draft comes, even Parliament can debate it.”
