Priyanka Gandhi Highlights the Constitution as a Vital Protector for Indians in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 13 (NationPress) Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra emphasized the significance of the Constitution as a protector and guarantee for the nation's security and freedom of speech.

During her inaugural speech in the Lok Sabha debate on the Constitution, she accused the central government of undermining trust in the Constitution over the past decade.

Beginning her address with a tribute to security personnel who sacrificed their lives defending Parliament during the December 13 attack, Priyanka expressed profound gratitude towards them.

She stated, “Our civilization, with roots that extend thousands of years, is founded on dialogue and communication,” referencing traditions from the Vedas, Upanishads, as well as religions such as Islam, Jainism, and Buddhism.

She elaborated, “This tradition of dialogue informed our remarkable freedom struggle, which was fundamentally democratic, involving peasants, laborers, advocates, intellectuals, and individuals from all castes and communities.”

Highlighting the contributions of leaders like B.R. Ambedkar, Maulana Azad, Rajaji, and Jawaharlal Nehru, who dedicated extensive efforts to drafting the Constitution, Priyanka remarked.

Describing the Constitution as a “beacon,” she asserted that it represents justice, hope, and aspiration, empowering citizens to assert their rights and hold governments accountable.

“Our Constitution encompasses justice, hope, expression, and aspiration. It serves as a beacon for the emotions of millions of Indians. This beacon instills hope that we can advocate for our rights and attain justice. It has provided strength, belief, and faith to every citizen of the country to voice their concerns, compelling the government to respond; citizens possess the power to influence any government,” she stated.

Recalling the Unnao rape case, Priyanka discussed the victim's family's hardships while seeking justice. “She was set ablaze, her father's crops were destroyed, and her family members were grievously assaulted,” she noted, emphasizing the obstacles victims confront while pursuing justice.

She also shared her recent visit to the home of Arun Valmiki, a sanitation worker accused of theft and allegedly beaten to death, leaving behind a young family. Similarly, she referenced the Sambhal violence and her conversations with victims' families, stressing the necessity of upholding constitutional principles in such instances.

Priyanka criticized the ruling government for diminishing the Constitution over the past ten years, asserting that the BJP now discusses the Constitution solely because the public has shown a firm resolve to protect it.

“Today, people demand a caste census to grasp the nation's reality and to shape policies accordingly. However, the government evades accountability, frequently referencing events from 1929 or questioning Nehru's decisions. What is your responsibility?” she inquired.

She also criticized leaders who switched parties, mockingly referring to them as “washed in the ruling party's washing machine.”

Priyanka accused the government of misusing agencies like the ED and CBI to target opposition leaders, labeling this behavior as a manifestation of fear.

She ridiculed the BJP for shunning debates and criticism.

“We have long sought discussions, but they lack the bravery to engage. They exist in fear, to such an extent that their media apparatus disseminates falsehoods and fabricates cases against opposition leaders,” she asserted.

She also declared, “The Constitution is not a document of the Sangh. If not for the Lok Sabha election outcomes, the BJP might have already begun to modify it.”