Parliament LIVE | Constitution is not the Sangh’s rulebook: Priyanka
The Lok Sabha is witnessing a two-day debate on the Constitution
Launching a scathing attack at the Narendra Modi government during the debate on Constitution in the Lok Sabha on Friday (December 13), Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the BJP would have started work on changing the Constitution had it not been for the General Elections polls in which it barely scraped through to victory.
Giving her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka said the Constitution was a protective shield of justice, unity and freedom of expression but the government made every effort to break it during the past 10 years.
Also read: How Constitution Day has reignited NDA-INDIA war over 'saving the Constitution'
“This government is working to weaken the reservation policy through lateral entry and privatisation. Had the Lok Sabha election results not come as they have, the government would have started the work on changing the Constitution," she said.
‘Mangalsutra’ dig at BJP
"The truth is that they are chanting 'Constitution' because they realised that the people of this country will keep the Constitution alive," said the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad.
Also read: How Rahul Gandhi kept the Constitution alive at every election since 2024 LS polls
She said the people were demanding a caste-based census and even the ruling party was talking about it because of the election results.
"When the entire opposition called for a caste-based census, they talked about cattle and 'mangalsutra' getting stolen," Priyanka said in an apparent reference to the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Congress tried to ‘hijack’ Constitution: Rajnath
Union Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who initiated the debate in the lower house of Parliament accused Congress of being intolerant towards independence and autonomy of institutions and attempting to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution.
Also read: SC junks pleas challenging inclusion of ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ in Preamble
Singh said the contribution of several leaders in the making of the Constitution was deliberately ignored and hit out at the Congress, asserting that "a particular party" always tried to "hijack and appropriate" the framing of the Constitution.
"On many occasions, the Congress has disrespected the Constitution and its spirit. It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution," he alleged.
"Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it. 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.
The BJP, however, he said, bows before the Constitution and has never played with the independence and autonomy of institutions.
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Live Updates
- 13 Dec 2024 1:20 PM IST
Constitution outcome of historical events: Rajnath Singh
"Our Constitution touches upon social, economic, political, cultural life and shows the way for nation building. It is a roadmap for giving India its place in the world stage... It is the outcome of a series of historical events," Rajnath Singh said.
"We must also remember those who were not part of the Constituent Assembly but their ideas are part of it (Constitution) and they played an important role. We must remember Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Veer Savarkar and several other such icons whose ideas strengthened the Constitution," Singh said.
- 13 Dec 2024 1:15 PM IST
Rajnath slams Cong, says it tried to destroy Constitution's basic principles
Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday said the Congress could never tolerate independence and autonomy of institutions and always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution.
Initiating a debate in the Lok Sabha as the House took up a two-day "Discussion on the Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India", the defence minister said the contribution of several leaders in the making of the Constitution was deliberately ignored and hit out at the Congress, asserting that "a particular party" always tried to "hijack and appropriate" the framing of the Constitution.
"On many occasions, the Congress has disrespected the Constitution and its spirit. It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution," he alleged.
"Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it. 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.
But the BJP always bows before the Constitution and has never played with the independence and autonomy of institutions, Singh asserted.
- 13 Dec 2024 12:27 PM IST
Bid to black out role of some in upholding Constitution: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that many who were not a part of the committee that drafted the Constitution contributed significantly to it. He named Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh and Veer Savarkar. His statement caused a brief uproar among the Opposition benches.
- 13 Dec 2024 12:26 PM IST
Constitution collective achievement of nation: Rajnath
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, during the Lok Sabha discussion on the Constitution, said that in recent years, efforts have been made to portray the Constitution as the work of a single party. He said that the Constitution is a collective achievement of the entire nation, shaped by the contributions of many leaders.
