NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of attempting to destroy the basic principles of India’s Constitution. Speaking during the two-day “Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India” in the Lok Sabha, the Defence Minister criticized the Congress for its repeated disrespect towards the Constitution and its spirit, particularly its disregard for the independence and autonomy of institutions.
Singh alleged that the Congress, throughout its history, had tried to “hijack and appropriate” the credit for framing the Constitution, ignoring the contribution of several leaders involved in its creation. He also pointed out that the party had a history of undermining the principles of secularism and freedom, which are enshrined in the Constitution. “Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it,” Singh remarked, accusing opposition leaders of using the Constitution for political leverage without understanding its true spirit.
He emphasized that while the BJP has always respected the Constitution and its provisions, including religious freedom and secularism, Congress had attempted to diminish the role of key figures who contributed to the drafting of the Constitution. Singh further mentioned that the Constitution was an expression of the general will of the people and reflected the collective vision for nation-building.
In his speech, Singh also urged the House to remember the ideas of prominent national leaders like Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, and Veer Savarkar, whose contributions were integral to the shaping of the Constitution, even though they were not part of the Constituent Assembly. He highlighted their influence in strengthening the Constitution and their role in shaping India’s democratic foundation.
This strong statement by Singh marks a significant point in the ongoing debate on the Constitution’s journey, with the BJP asserting its dedication to the Constitution’s values while critiquing the Congress for its alleged historical missteps in protecting those values.
