Amit Shah Critiques Congress: 4 Amendments for Personal Gain vs 4 for Public Benefit
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New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, targeted Congress-led administrations from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, asserting that all amendments were instituted to promote the interests of a single family.
In a fierce critique, Amit Shah also took a pointed jab at the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Without naming him, he remarked that the 54-year-old leader styles himself as a youth leader and shamelessly boasts on public platforms about his plans to amend the Constitution.
He highlighted that the BJP has governed the nation for a total of 16 years (6 years under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and 10 years under PM Modi), during which 22 amendments to the Constitution were made, while the Congress managed to effect 77 amendments over a span of 55 years.
The Home Minister further unearthed numerous 'illegitimate and unlawful' amendments enacted during previous Congress administrations and contrasted four constitutional amendments from Congress and BJP tenures to ‘uncover’ the intentions and motives of Congress-led governments.
He stated that while both parties have amended the Constitution, the key distinction lies in the intent and purpose behind the amendments. The Congress amendments were motivated by personal interests, whereas ours were directed towards national welfare.
“The first amendment was enacted on June 18, 1951, during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru. The introduction of Article 19 (A) was designed to restrict the freedom of expression of citizens. The twenty-fourth amendment was initiated by the Indira Gandhi government on November 5, 1971, which conferred Parliament with ‘unrestricted’ powers to undermine the fundamental rights of citizens,” the Home Minister informed the House.
He continued, “The 39th amendment was introduced on August 10, 1975, marking a grim period in Indian democracy. Following the Allahabad High Court ruling declaring Indira’s election as unlawful, her administration enacted an amendment with retrospective effect to negate the court ruling.”
“Under the 45th amendment, the tenure of the Lok Sabha was extended from five to six years, driven by fears of electoral defeat, while the duration of President’s rule was prolonged by six months,” he pointed out.
He asserted that although Congress governments have introduced numerous amendments, these four exemplify the mindset and motives of the party, as all were aimed at protecting one family's interests and fulfilling personal agendas.
The Home Minister proceeded to highlight four amendments introduced under the BJP government, emphasizing that all were aimed at enhancing public welfare.
“The 101st amendment, enacted on July 1, 2017, introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as part of the 'one nation-one tax' initiative. This reform established uniformity in taxation across the nation and benefited millions of citizens,” he stated.
“The 102nd amendment granted constitutional status to the OBC commission. The 103rd amendment (January 12, 2019) allocated 10 percent reservation for individuals from backward communities. The 106th amendment provided 33 percent reservation for women through the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam,” Amit Shah elaborated.
He remarked that once the women’s reservation is implemented and 33 percent of women MPs represent their constituencies in the House, it will fulfill the aspirations and vision of our forefathers.
