Rahul Gandhi slams Modi over 'blank constitution' remark, demands fair representation for tribals, dalits

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of treating the "red book" of the Indian Constitution as if it were blank, claiming the Prime Minister has never read it.

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar, Gandhi emphasized that the Constitution holds the soul of India and reflects the values championed by national icons like Birsa Munda, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi.

"The BJP has objections to the red color of the book," Gandhi remarked, referring to the red-covered Constitution he has been displaying at rallies. "But we don’t care whether it’s red or blue. We are committed to preserving it, even if we have to lay down our lives for it. Modi ji thinks the Constitution I carry is blank because he has never read it," Gandhi said.

He continued, "But Modi ji, this book is not empty. It carries the soul and wisdom of India. It enshrines the values of national heroes like Birsa Munda, Buddha, Mahatma Phule, Dr. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi. If you call this book empty, you insult these icons."

The Congress leader also reaffirmed the party's commitment to ensuring that adivasis (tribals), Dalits, and backward classes have a larger role in the nation’s decision-making processes.

In a pointed reference to the BJP's election campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly polls, which has sought to link the "red book" to "urban Naxalism," Gandhi accused the BJP and Prime Minister Modi of insulting India’s national icons.

He also criticized the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for referring to adivasis as "vanvasi" (forest dwellers) instead of the more appropriate "adivasi" (original inhabitants), a term that better reflects their rights and heritage.

“Adivasis are the first owners of the country and have the first right to jal (water), jungle (forest), and zameen (land),” Gandhi said. “But the BJP wants adivasis to remain in the jungle without any rights. Birsa Munda fought for these rights and laid down his life.”

Gandhi also highlighted the promises made by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in its manifesto, which includes providing Rs 3,000 in monthly assistance and free bus travel for women, farmers, and youth. The manifesto also includes a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4,000 per month for unemployed youth.

Reiterating his demand for a caste census, Gandhi argued that it would provide a clearer picture of the representation and needs of adivasis, Dalits, and backward classes in Maharashtra. "Currently, the tribal population, which makes up eight percent of the state’s population, has only one percent representation in decision-making," he said.

He also alleged that Maharashtra had lost approximately five lakh jobs due to the relocation of several key industrial projects, including the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant, Tata-Airbus manufacturing units, an iPhone factory, a drug park, and a petrochemical plant, to other states.

Gandhi pointed to the lack of representation of adivasis in key government positions. “Out of the 90 officers who run the government, only one is from the adivasi community,” he said. "And for every Rs 100 disbursed by these officers, the adivasi officer controls only 10 paise. Adivasis make up eight percent of the population, but their participation in decision-making is a mere fraction of that."

He stressed the need for change, adding that adivasi officers are often relegated to less important departments. “We must change this system and ensure better representation for our tribal brothers and sisters.”

Gandhi also posed a question to the media and corporate sectors: “How many Dalits, adivasis, and backward class members are working in top media houses and companies? We must ensure that people from backward communities, tribals, and Dalits have their rightful participation in the power structures and decision-making processes of this country.”