Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur and Jagdambika Pal hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi following his remarks in the Lok Sabha during the discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution.
Anurag Thakur’s Response
- Thakur criticized Rahul Gandhi for his rhetoric, asserting that the Constitution reflects the truth about both Congress and the Gandhi family.
- He presented a book with a preface by Supreme Court lawyer Gopal Shankar Narayan, stating:
- The Constitution was drafted by India’s most intelligent minds, including B.R. Ambedkar, without being influenced by Nehruvian thought.
- He noted that the strength of the Constitution helped the country overcome the dark period of the Emergency, imposed during Indira Gandhi’s rule.
- Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of grandstanding without truly understanding the Constitution.“I asked opposition MPs how many pages are there in the Constitution they carry. No one could answer.”
Jagdambika Pal’s Criticism
- Pal accused the Congress party of forcing B.R. Ambedkar to resign as Union Law Minister due to Jawaharlal Nehru’s opposition.
- Highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s past actions, Pal referred to an incident where Rahul tore a bill passed under the Manmohan Singh government, calling it an insult to the Constitution.“The Congress compelled Ambedkar to resign, and Rahul Gandhi himself disrespected the Constitution when he tore a bill passed by his own government.”
Rahul Gandhi’s Earlier Remarks
In his speech marking the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP government:
- Economic Disparity: Accused the government of “cutting off the thumbs” of Indian youth by favoring industrialists and privatizing sectors.
- Defenders of Ideals: Positioned the Opposition as defenders of Constitutional values, invoking historical figures like Periyar, Basavanna, Phule, Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Rahul accused the BJP of merely paying lip service to these figures while seeking a return to pre-modern governance systems.
Conclusion
The heated exchanges highlight the deep political divisions over the interpretation of the Constitution and historical legacies of leaders like Ambedkar and Nehru. While the BJP defends its ideological stance, the Congress continues to portray itself as the guardian of constitutional values and social justice. The debate underscores the battle for historical and moral legitimacy as both sides prepare for upcoming political contests.