Congress Cannot Escape the Sin of Emergency: PM Modi's Roar in Response to Constitution Debate in Lok Sabha

On the occasion of the Amrit Year of the Constitution's implementation, a two-day debate was held in the Lok Sabha on the "75 years of the glorious journey of India’s Constitution." To counter the bouncer attacks from the opposition, Rajnath Singh, the Union Defence Minister, played the role of an opener for the NDA-led BJP, and later, former Union Minister Anurag Thakur delivered a swift and strong response to the opposition's assaults. Meanwhile, in his unique style, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a powerful stand on the Constitution debate, leaving no stone unturned in addressing the opposition’s points.

On Friday and Saturday, a debate on the Constitution was held in the Lok Sabha to mark 75 years of its adoption, with key leaders from both sides of the aisle participating.

During the debate on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress. Without naming the Nehru-Gandhi family, he stated that no one had harmed the Constitution as much as a single family within Congress. He mentioned that this family ruled the country for 55 years and during their reign, the Emergency was imposed, which challenged the Constitution. He pointed out that Congress attacked freedom of expression, dissolved elected governments, and had always targeted the Constitution. Modi recalled how Indira Gandhi overturned the Supreme Court’s verdict and, in a fit of anger, imposed the Emergency, stripping citizens of their rights and imprisoning thousands of people. He stated that during the Emergency, people were not allowed to approach the courts, and Congress could not escape the sin of imposing the Emergency.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Emergency occurred during the Constitution's 25th year, turning the country into a prison. He reiterated that Congress had attacked the freedom of the press and disrespected the framers of the Constitution. Modi also recalled Jawaharlal Nehru's letter, which allegedly attempted to alter the Constitution through the backdoor, pointing out that Nehru had his own version of the Constitution running in the country.

Modi further stated that India’s glorious Constitution is the reason why ordinary people like him could rise to the position of Prime Minister. He referred to Article 370, saying it was an obstacle to national unity, and hence, it was scrapped with full determination. He added that the policies of his government were in accordance with the Constitution, with national unity being a top priority. He mentioned initiatives like One Nation One Ration Card, promoting mother tongues, and the balanced development agenda. Modi also recalled how, during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, the 50th anniversary of the Constitution was celebrated, and during his own tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister, he marked the 60th anniversary of the Constitution with a "Constitution Journey."

Citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Modi emphasized that democracy is deeply rooted in India’s culture and that women have played a crucial role in empowering the Constitution. He said that India is progressing rapidly and will become the third-largest economy in the world by 2047. He also highlighted that India’s diversity and unity, which are reflected in the Constitution, have been its hallmark.

Modi said that the 75 years of Indian democracy were a moment of great pride, as India’s journey as the world's largest democracy had been extraordinary. He stated that the Constitution had overcome all doubts and challenges, and the framers of the Constitution had a deep sense of unity. He also noted that India is known as the "mother of democracy" globally, and its democracy is a source of inspiration.

The Prime Minister criticized Congress for having ruled the country for 55 out of the 75 years since independence and pointed out that during this period, the Constitution had been altered 75 times. Modi stated that under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, the Constitution had been changed to suit their political needs, including overturning Supreme Court decisions. He mentioned the 1971 Supreme Court ruling, which was overturned through a Constitutional amendment, effectively clipping the wings of the judiciary.

Modi also discussed several key issues such as Article 370 and the Uniform Civil Code, while taking an indirect jab at the Gandhi family, saying that one family in Congress had left no stone unturned in damaging the Constitution. His speech took direct aim at the long reign of Congress, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Before Modi’s address, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised questions about the views of Veer Savarkar on the Constitution, while his sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, criticized the government.

The debate on the Constitution also echoed on social media, with many praising PM Modi’s speech as a powerful and self-assured response. Some even saw it as a reflection of BJP’s confidence following unexpected victories in Haryana and Maharashtra elections. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal pointed out that when Rahul Gandhi tore up a bill passed by his own government in Parliament, it was an attack on the Constitution.

Earlier in the debate, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had questioned the Modi government’s stance on issues such as caste-based census and reservations, while citing a piece written by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. After Rahul Gandhi’s speech, BJP leaders commented on his address, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju denouncing his remarks on Savarkar and sharing a document on social media to counter his claims.

Political analysts believe that while both the ruling party and the opposition praise the Constitution, they continue to engage in the same old political blame game in Parliament. They argue that given the current political climate, both inside and outside the country, the focus should now be on strengthening the Constitution. It will be interesting to see how the debate progresses in the Rajya Sabha.