PM Modi slams Congress: 'Constitution in pockets, democracy personal property'
Synopsis
PM Modi used a blistering address on 12 November to cast the Congress as a party that weaponises the Constitution while suppressing independent assessments it found inconvenient — invoking a Gujarat rankings controversy from his chief ministerial tenure. The speech blended political offence with an agricultural progress report, framing the BJP's fertiliser subsidies and farm output records as the contrast to what he called an Opposition 'intoxicated by power.'
Key Takeaways
PM Modi on 12 November 2026 accused the Congress of treating the Constitution as a prop and democracy as 'personal property.' He alleged the then Central government forced a government institution to seek prior approval before publishing reports that ranked Gujarat as the country's best-performing state.
The Centre has spent nearly ₹16 lakh crore on fertiliser subsidies, making urea available to farmers at under ₹300 per bag versus a global price of around ₹3,000 .
Milk production has risen 70% , egg production 90% , and honey output has grown from 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes over the past decade.
Horticulture output has climbed from roughly 280 million tonnes to over 350 million tonnes ; India is now the second-largest producer of wheat, cotton, vegetables, and fish globally.
Modi said the government aims to turn farmers from 'annadatas' (food providers) into 'krishi udyamis' (agricultural entrepreneurs).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 November 2026 launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of treating the Constitution as a prop and democracy as a family inheritance. The remarks came as Modi took aim at what he described as a selective and self-serving invocation of democratic values by the principal Opposition.
Modi's Core Charge Against the Opposition
'Nowadays, some people pull out the Constitution as if it is tucked away in their pockets and democracy is their personal property,' the Prime Minister said, alleging that such leaders remain 'intoxicated by power.'
Modi went further, contending that this attachment to power persists even after leaving office. 'Even when they are not in power, they behave this way. It is a strange kind of intoxication with power,' he said. He questioned the Opposition's credibility on democratic principles, adding, 'These are the very people who now lecture us on democracy.'
The Gujarat Rankings Episode
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi alleged that a government-affiliated institution — named after a former Prime Minister — had once ranked Gujarat as the country's best-performing state. He claimed the then Central government intervened, directing the organisation to seek prior approval before publishing such assessments.
'The government told them: This will not do. You must obtain our approval before publishing any such report,' Modi said, presenting the episode as evidence of the Congress's alleged suppression of inconvenient findings during its tenure.
Farm Sector Gains and Subsidies
Shifting tone, the Prime Minister said reducing the financial burden on farmers remains a central priority of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government. He highlighted that nearly ₹16 lakh crore has been allocated towards fertiliser subsidies, ensuring cultivators can access urea at under ₹300 per bag — against an international market price of around ₹3,000.
He credited the White Revolution for making India the world's largest milk producer and cited a decade of growth across allied sectors: milk production up 70%, egg production up 90%, and honey output rising from roughly 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes. India, he added, is now the second-largest global producer of wheat, cotton, vegetables, and fish.
Agriculture's Next Frontier
Horticulture output, Modi noted, has climbed from about 280 million tonnes to more than 350 million tonnes, reflecting what he described as the growing diversification of India's agricultural economy. Agricultural scientists, he said, are developing cost-cutting equipment to ease sowing and harvesting.
The government's broader ambition, the Prime Minister said, is to transform 'annadatas' (food providers) into 'krishi udyamis' (agricultural entrepreneurs) by promoting value addition at the source of production so that farmers can earn more from their produce.
With the Opposition unlikely to let the constitutional remarks pass without a rebuttal, the exchange is set to deepen the political confrontation heading into the winter session of Parliament.
Point of View
If substantiated, would be damaging; but its specifics remain unverified in the public domain, and the government has not named the institution or produced documentation, leaving it vulnerable to being dismissed as assertion. The agricultural numbers are significant in their own right, but bundling farm progress with political attack risks diluting both messages. The sharpest accountability question here is not what Modi said, but whether the Congress will produce a credible rebuttal — and whether Parliament's winter session will give either side the floor to test these claims properly.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi mean by 'Constitution in pockets'?
PM Modi was criticising the Congress and the Leader of Opposition for what he described as selective and performative invocations of the Constitution to claim democratic legitimacy. He argued that these leaders treat both the Constitution and democracy as personal possessions rather than shared national values, and that their attachment to power persists even when they are out of office.
What is the Gujarat rankings controversy Modi mentioned?
Modi alleged that during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, a government-affiliated institution named after a former Prime Minister had ranked Gujarat as India's best-performing state. He claimed the then Congress-led Central government intervened and told the institution to seek prior government approval before publishing any such report — an allegation he presented as evidence of the Congress suppressing inconvenient data.
How much has the government spent on fertiliser subsidies?
According to Modi, the BJP-led Union government has allocated nearly ₹16 lakh crore in fertiliser subsidies, allowing Indian farmers to buy a bag of urea for under ₹300, compared to an international market price of around ₹3,000 per bag.
What agricultural milestones did PM Modi highlight?
Modi cited a 70% rise in milk production, a 90% rise in egg production, and honey output growing from roughly 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes over the past decade. He also said horticulture output rose from about 280 million tonnes to over 350 million tonnes, and that India is now the second-largest global producer of wheat, cotton, vegetables, and fish.
What is the government's vision for Indian farmers?
Modi outlined a goal of converting farmers from 'annadatas' (food providers) into 'krishi udyamis' (agricultural entrepreneurs) by promoting value addition at the production source, developing cost-reducing farm equipment, and ensuring farmers earn more from their produce.
