Opposition Warns Mahayuti: Change Constitution, Change Government
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Synopsis
Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, warns the Mahayuti government against altering the Constitution, asserting that such actions would lead to a governmental change by the populace. The debate emphasizes the Constitution's foundational principles and the role of saints in its creation.
Key Takeaways
- The Constitution is paramount and should not be altered.
- Saints' teachings influenced the Constitution's development.
- Freedom of expression is guaranteed under Article 19.
- The separation of politics and religion is essential.
- Democracy must be upheld through proper leadership appointments.
Mumbai, March 25 (NationPress) The Congress Legislature Party leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, on Tuesday cautioned the Mahayuti government that if there are any attempts to alter the Constitution, the citizens will respond by changing the government.
The Constitution is a superior document compared to any religious texts. This nation operates under the Constitution, and if you attempt to modify it, the populace will change the government,” he emphasized during his address in the state Assembly on the special discussion titled ‘The glorious journey of the Indian Constitution’.
“The principles of our Constitution are rooted in the teachings of saints who fought against caste discrimination, untouchability, and social inequality. Saints Tukaram, Namdev, and Dnyaneshwar promoted self-betterment and rational thinking. Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, association, and thought. Additionally, Saints Janabai and Bahinabai championed the respect for women’s dignity, which is also enshrined in the Constitution,” Wadettiwar stated.
He went on to mention that Babasaheb Ambedkar stressed the importance of keeping politics and religion apart. “The Constitution mandates that the government and its agencies treat all religions with equality. Yet, a minister has made a provocative comment against a particular religion... isn’t this a breach of the Constitution? Establishing a secular state is fundamental to the Constitution, and the government is working to undermine it,” he asserted.
The Shiv Sena UBT Legislative Party leader, Bhaskar Jadhav, urged the MahaYuti government to uphold the integrity of democracy by appointing a Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. “We are discussing the Constitution. Tomorrow marks the final day of the session. You (the government) are set to elect the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. I have provided all the evidence indicating that the election of the Leader of the Opposition does not require numbers. Despite submitting a letter, you have yet to appoint the Leader of the Opposition. If you oppose my name, I am willing to withdraw it. I implore the party chief to submit another name. Please preserve the dignity of democracy by appointing the Leader of the Opposition,” he remarked.
Shiv Sena legislator Arjun Khotkar stated that no one has the authority to incite religious conflicts. He criticized the government for suggesting that societal health would suffer due to someone’s opinion or words, leading to disputes among castes and religions, asserting that the Constitution does not grant us this power. “In our village, we were unaware of caste affiliations; today, individuals are categorized by caste. Now, a person from one caste refrains from greeting someone from another caste. Where are we heading? This is alarming. We must dismantle this division through the strength of the Constitution,” he added.
On the other hand, BJP legislator Amit Satam accused the opposition parties of misrepresenting the Constitution. “Some individuals had a misguided perception of the Constitution in 2024, yet those same individuals harmed the Constitution of this nation, undermined it,” he stated. 'Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Dante,' (the pot calling the kettle black) mocked Satam, suggesting that those who claim the Constitution is under threat were in power in the state from 2019 to 2022, during which they undermined it.
