In a scathing critique of the BJP during the Constitution Day debate in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi invoked Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar to highlight ideological contradictions within the ruling party. Gandhi accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution and favoring the Manusmriti, a controversial Sanskrit text criticized for its caste bias.
“VD Savarkar says clearly in his writings that there is nothing Indian about our Constitution… When you [BJP] speak of protecting the Constitution, you are ridiculing Savarkar, you are abusing Savarkar, you are defaming Savarkar,” Gandhi remarked, amid loud protests from BJP members.
Savarkar and Historical Allegations
Gandhi further alleged that Savarkar had compromised with the British colonial rulers, contrasting him with freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. He cited a conversation with his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who claimed Savarkar had sent apologies to the British.
Drawing parallels between the BJP and Mahabharata’s Dronacharya, Gandhi accused the ruling party of stifling opportunities for India’s youth. He criticized the government’s lateral entry policy into administrative positions and highlighted instances of paper leaks in recruitment exams, claiming these actions “chopped off the thumb of the youth, backward class people, and the poor.”
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The Congress leader also targeted the government over its treatment of farmers, referencing the use of tear gas and lathi charges during protests outside Delhi. “Farmers are demanding MSP, a suitable price. But you facilitate profits to Adani, Ambani and cut off the thumb of farmers,” he said.
Demand for Caste Census and Reservation Cap Removal
Reiterating his promise of conducting a caste census, Gandhi argued that the initiative would usher in a “new kind of development” by ensuring fair representation. He also called for removing the 50% cap on reservations.
Countering Gandhi’s remarks, BJP MP Anurag Thakur reminded the Opposition of the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, during which democratic rights were curtailed. Thakur asserted, “It was the power of the Constitution that forced Indira Gandhi to end the Emergency.”
The Larger Debate
Gandhi’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions over the BJP’s alleged ideological opposition to the Constitution and favoring policies that critics claim undermine democratic and social equity principles. The debate also touched on issues like economic policies, caste representation, and employment opportunities—key concerns for voters.
As the Constitution Day debate unfolded, it underscored the stark ideological and policy divides between the BJP and Congress, setting the stage for a contentious political battle in the months ahead.
