‘BJP GOVT RESPECTS CONSTITUTION, EVEN AMBEDKAR CAN’T ABOLISH IT‘

JAIPUR: Amid Opposition charges that the BJP was out to destroy the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government revered it and even Babasaheb Ambedkar would not be able to abolish it now.

Addressing an election rally in Barmer, Modi said: “The Congress, which discriminated against SCs, STs and OBCs for decades, made Babasaheb lose elections, did not give him Bharat Ratna, and tried to abolish the Constitution by imposing Emergency in the country, is today taking cover of the Constitution to abuse Modi.” He added: “The INDI alliance is telling lies in the name of the Constitution.”

Last month, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the “ultimate goal of Modi and the BJP is to destroy Babasaheb’s Constitution” after BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde’s statement that the party needs a two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution.

Modi said his government came up with the idea of celebrating Constitution Day, which was opposed by the Congress, and he also developed the ‘Panchtirthas’ associated with Ambedkar.

“As far as the Constitution is concerned, even if Babasaheb Ambedkar himself comes, he cannot abolish it. The Constitution is Geeta, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bible and Quran for the government. For us, the Constitution is everything,” he said.

Hitting back, state Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said: “It is well known that it is because of the Congress that we have democracy and the Constitution. As for changing or abolishing the Constitution is concerned, it is not us but the BJP which is trying that. There are videos of BJP leaders saying they will change the Constitution.”