PM Modi To Conclude Constitution Debate Today Amid Intense NDA-Opposition Exchanges | ANI
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver his address in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the two-day debate on the ‘Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India.’ The debate, which began with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s opening remarks, witnessed sharp exchanges between the ruling NDA and the Opposition, INDIA bloc.
Defence Minister Singh, in his opening speech, accused the Congress of prioritizing power over constitutional values. He criticised the party for undermining the autonomy of institutions and frequently amending the Constitution with ‘malicious intent.’ Highlighting instances such as the Emergency, the dismissal of state governments and the supersession of Supreme Court judges, Singh accused Congress of disregarding constitutional principles for political gain.
Rajnath Singh Attacks Congress
Rajnath Singh also took a veiled dig at Congress leaders, saying they carry a copy of the Constitution in their pockets as if it is their personal property. He accused the Congress of projecting the Constitution as solely its creation, ignoring the contributions of other leaders. Citing the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh called it a historic step in ensuring the Constitution’s uniform application across the nation. He also stressed on the cultural roots of the Constitution, which reflect India’s civilizational values through its illustrations of deities and traditions.
Priyanka Gandhi Counters NDA’s Allegations
The Opposition, however, strongly countered the NDA’s claims. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, making her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha, accused the BJP of undermining the Constitution and fostering crony capitalism. She alleged that the BJP would have changed the Constitution had it not been held accountable in elections.
Priyanka raised issues such as bribery allegations against the Adani Group, violence in Manipur, atrocities against women and the demand for a caste census. She labelled the Constitution as ‘Bharat ka Samvidhan’ and not ‘Sangh ka Vidhan,’ accusing the BJP of exploiting it for political ends.
Taking a swipe at the BJP’s criticism of the Emergency, Priyanka said the ruling party should learn from it and apologise for its own mistakes. She also accused the BJP of toppling opposition-led governments using financial and political manipulation, citing Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh as examples.
The debate sets the stage for PM Modi’s concluding address, where he is expected to respond to these allegations and outline the government’s vision for upholding the Constitution in the years to come.
