Constitution under attack by BJP, says Rahul
NEWDELHI: On the 133rd Congress Foundation Day, and his first one as the party’s new president, Rahul Gandhi continued his attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party for using lies for political gain, a theme he has harped on repeatedly in recent weeks, even as he warned that the country’s foundation, the Constitution, is under attack “directly and surreptitiously” by BJP members.
His reference was to recent remarks by BJP minister Anantkumar Hegde, who had said his party would “change the Constitution”.
Hegde, who also made pointed remarks to the Constitution’s use of the term secular, apologised for his comments on Thursday.
Gandhi , who spoke before Hegde’s apology came, said it was the duty of everyone in the Congress, and every Indian, to “defend the Constitution”.
For much of his talk at the Congress HQ in central Delhi, though, Gandhi dwelt on a theme that he is becoming partial to: lies.
“What is happening in our country is a web of deceit. BJP operates on the basic idea that a lie can be used for political benefits,” he said, taking jibes at the rival party once again for spreading lies.
As a citizen, I can’t think of violating the Constitution... If someone is hurt, I have no hesitation to tender my apology. ANANTKUMAR HEGDE,
Union minister
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde on Thursday tendered an apology in the Lok Sabha for his remarks about rewriting the Constitution, an issue which led to uproar in the two houses of Parliament for two days.
At a function in Karnataka on Sunday, Hegde, the Minister of State for Skill Development, had reportedly said people should identify themselves by their religion and “those who, without knowing about their parental blood, call themselves secular, they don’t have their own identity...They don’t know about their parentage.” He had also said “we are here to change the Constitution and we’ll change it.” The opposition had alleged that it amounted to insult of Dr BR Ambedkar, the father of Indian constitution.
Hegde clarified in the Lok Sabha that he held the country, the Constitution and its architect BR Ambedkar in high esteem and there was no question of showing disrespect to them. “As a citizen, I can’t think of violating the Constitution,” he said.
Congress members refused to accept anything less than an apology.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had nudged the minister to apologise for his remarks.
“If someone is hurt, I have no hesitation to tender my apology,” he said. The opposition raised the issue again in the Rajya Sabha, forcing chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the house twice in the pre-lunch session.
Naidu first adjourned the house at 11.45 am for 15 minutes. When the House resumed at 12pm, opposition members continued their protest.
An irritated Naidu then said by not allowing question hour to proceed, members were violating rules. To which Congress member BK Hariprasad responded that the members were only violating rules but a minister in the government was violating the Constitution.
The leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad asked how a minister, who does not believe in the Constitution, can continue to be a member of the council of ministers.
Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Vijay Goel said Hegde has already expressed regret in Lok Sabha, so the matter should be put to rest.
“Hegde has clarified in Lok Sabha that his remarks were twisted and he respects Baba Saheb Ambedkar. He has also expressed regret if his statement has hurt the sentiments of anyone,” Goyal said.