Initiating a two-day debate on Friday in the Lok Sabha on “Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India”, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused Congress for always choosing “satta” (power) over the Constitution and never tolerated autonomy of institutions and tried to destroy constitutional principles and spirit. Singh was countered by Priyanka Gandhi, leading the Opposition said that it seems Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not understood that it is ‘Bharat ka Samvidhan’ not ‘Sangh ka Vidhan’. She described the Constitution as a ‘suraksha kavach’ (protective shield) of justice, unity and freedom of expression and one the BJP-led Government has made every effort to break in the past 10 years.
Provoking the Opposition MPs, Rajanth Singh said Congress has sought to project the Constitution as its own contribution, while deliberately ignoring the contribution of several leaders. “The talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it (Congress). These days, I see that 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, adding “the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), on the other hand, always bows before the Constitution and has never played with the independence and autonomy of institutions.” Singh’s assertion drew jibes from the members of the Opposition benches during a speech that was largely heard in attention. “Congress, during its decades in power, often amended the Constitution with a malicious spirit to change it gradually, while the Narendra Modi Government has effected amendments to strengthen its fundamental values and for people’s empowerment”, alleged Singh, inviting objections from Congress MPs.
Whenever there was a choice, the Congress chose power over the Constitution, he claimed. It always tried to “hijack and appropriate” the framing of the Constitution, Singh said, highlighting the imposition of Emergency, dismissal of many state governments and superseding of Supreme Court judges for “standing up” to the then Indira Gandhi government to charge the party with violating constitutional principles.
The BJP leader said he is surprised that those who subverted the Constitution are now speaking for its protection. “Expressions for protecting the Constitution from the Congress do not look good,” he said in a jibe at the Opposition party. The two-day debate, which is likely to end with Prime Minister’s Modi’s speech, is being seen as a highlight of the ongoing parliamentary session amid a running battle between the ruling party and the Opposition since the Lok Sabha poll campaign, which was marked by the INDIA bloc building its campaign on the Constitution being allegedly under threat from the BJP.
Singh’s mention of the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, a persistent target of the BJP’s attack over the years, as one of those who contributed to the making of the Constitution drew rare cheers from the Opposition benches. The BJP leader, though, later also charged Nehru with amending the Constitution to override a Supreme Court judgment for “stifling” freedom of expression.
Singh lauded the role of the Supreme Court as the “custodian” and “interpreter” of the Constitution, citing its judgments that negated the then Congress regime’s bid to topple opposition-ruled state governments. “Today, there is talk of protecting the Constitution. This is the duty of all of us. But we also need to understand who has respected the Constitution and who has disrespected it,” he said, slamming the Congress for its idea of “committed judiciary, committed bureaucracy and committed institutions”, a reference particularly to Indira Gandhi’s rule in the 1970s.
Priyanka in her 32-minute maiden speech, countered the BJP and said had it not been for the Lok Sabha poll results, the ruling party would have started changing the Constitution. The Congress leader even took on Union Minister Rajnath Singh, saying those in the ruling party mostly talk about the past but should tell the country what they are doing now. “What is your responsibility? Or does all the responsibility lie with Jawaharlal Nehru ji?” she asked in a swipe at the BJP over its repeated criticism of India’s first PM.
“Our Constitution laid the foundation of economic justice, distributing land to farmers, the poor and the needy.... Whose name is often used by them (BJP) to save themselves, he (Jawaharlal Nehru) created many PSUs and institutions such as HAL, BHEL, SAIL, GAIL, ONGC, NTPC, Railways, IIT, IIM,” she said. “His name can be erased from the books, but his role in the Independence struggle and nation building can never be erased from this country,” the Congress general secretary said about her great grandfather.
Addressing criticism of the Emergency, she said the BJP should learn from it and apologise for its mistakes. “My colleague in the ruling party recounted the past, this happened, that happened... What happened in 1975. You also learn from it, you also apologise for your mistakes,” she said.
“You talk of political justice, you cause governments to fall on the strength of money... I will give another example, that of Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. Was the Constitution not applicable to these states,” she said. Priyanka Gandhi also challenged the BJP to hold elections by using the ballot paper, saying it will expose the reality.
In a stinging critique of the PM, the Congress leader said, “There used to be a story that the king used to go among the people in disguise to listen to criticism. Today’s king is also very fond of changing his disguise... But he neither has the courage to go among the public nor to listen to criticism.”
Slamming the BJP over its alleged divisive politics, she said seeds of suspicion and hatred are being sown where the Constitution gave a protective shield of unity. “The ‘suraksha kavach’ of unity is being broken. The prime minister touches his forehead to the Constitution but when there are cries for justice from Sambhal, Hathras and Manipur, there is not a wrinkle on his forehead,” said Priyanka, adding that “it seems Prime Minister Modi hasn’t understood that ‘Bharat ka Samvidhan’ is not ‘Sangh ka Vidhan”.
