Do You Support Your Leader's Statements? Rahul Gandhi's Critique of Savarkar and the Central Government
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New Delhi, Dec 14 (NationPress) During a session on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution', Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Centre, questioning the government's position regarding Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's opinions about the Constitution.
Gandhi referenced Savarkar's writings, accusing the Hindutva ideologue of asserting that the Constitution had "nothing Indian about it" and promoting Manusmriti as the rightful law for the nation.
He cited Savarkar's statement: "The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is the scripture which is most worshipable after the Vedas for our Hindu nation… This book has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation for centuries."
As the Opposition members applauded, Gandhi challenged the BJP, asking, "Do you support your leader's statements?.. Because when you advocate for the Constitution in Parliament, you belittle Savarkar."
He characterized the Indian Constitution as the "document of Mother India," influenced by icons like BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and ancient philosophies from Shiva to Kabir. He contrasted this with the BJP's alleged disregard for constitutional principles.
Gandhi made comparisons to the Mahabharata, likening the BJP to Dronacharya, claiming the party is "deceiving" India's youth, similar to how Dronacharya demanded Eklavya's thumb.
He also condemned the Centre for its treatment of protesting farmers, but Speaker Om Birla interjected, urging Gandhi to focus on the discussion regarding the Constitution.
Gandhi recalled his recent visit to Hathras, where he met the family of the 2020 gangrape victim, criticizing the Centre for ignoring the plight of the farmers and the victim's family, currently confined while the accused roam free.
"This might be what your Manusmriti says; not what the Constitution says," he stated, adding that the INDIA bloc will "assist in relocating the family if the government fails to act."
He reaffirmed the INDIA bloc's pledge to conduct a caste census and "break" the 50 percent reservation cap.
"Economic equality has vanished in India, which is why our next move will be a caste census. We will expose how you have deceived laborers and farmers. Therefore, we will carry out the caste census as promised, leading to new governance. We will dismantle the 50 percent reservation barrier. Do as you wish," concluded the LoP.
