New Delhi [India]: On Constitution Day, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the Indian Constitution as a “book of truth and non-violence” that embodies the ideas of social empowerment advocated by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Lord Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at an event at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Gandhi stated, “The idea of social empowerment of Dr. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Lord Buddha, and Gandhiji is inside this (referring to the Constitution). I want to ask you, does this have the voice of Savarkar ji? Is it written somewhere in it that violence should be used, people should be killed, or that the government should be run by using lies? This is a book of truth and non-violence.”
He further criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he had not read the Constitution. “Narendra Modi ji and BJP government organized a function in Parliament on the occasion of Constitution Day. This is India’s Constitution, and I guarantee you, Narendra Modi ji has not read it. Had he read this book, he wouldn’t be doing what he has been doing every day,” said Gandhi.
Highlighting the Congress-led caste census initiative in Telangana, Gandhi called it a “historic step” and promised to implement similar measures in other states where the party comes to power. “A few days ago, we started the work of a caste census in Telangana. It is not a bureaucratic exercise. For the first time, caste census has been made a public exercise in Telangana, designed by lakhs of people, including Dalits, tribals, backward classes, the poor, and minorities. Wherever our government comes in the future, we will carry out a caste census,” he said.
During the event, a technical glitch caused Gandhi’s microphone to switch off mid-speech. Responding to the interruption, he remarked, “In this country, for the last 3,000 years, whoever talks about Dalits, tribals, backward classes, or the poor, his mic gets switched off. When the mic was switched off, people told me to sit down. I said I will not sit; switch off the mic as much as you want; I will speak whatever I want. Rohith Vemula’s photo is behind me; he wanted to speak, but his voice was taken away.”
Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu released a commemorative coin and stamp to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other leaders attended the celebrations at Samvidhan Sadan in Parliament.
Constitution Day, observed on November 26, commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949 by the Constituent Assembly. The document came into effect on January 26, 1950.