The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a strong attack on Congress for allegedly insulting the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan held by Rahul Gandhi in Nagpur. The controversy erupted after BJP accused Congress of distributing blank copies of the Constitution at the event. The copies reportedly had a red cover, instead of the traditional blue, and the pages inside were blank. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala called this an “insult” to the Constitution and Ambedkar, highlighting the party’s alleged anti-constitutional and anti-reservation stance.
Key Points:
- BJP’s Allegations: BJP accused Congress of insulting the Constitution and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by distributing blank copies at the event. The color change and blank pages were viewed as disrespectful.
- Historical Allegations: BJP reminded that Congress had previously “defeated Ambedkar in elections twice,” and made other criticisms against Ambedkar and constitutional values, including Nehru’s opposition to reservations and the Congress’ past stance on the Mandal Commission’s recommendations.
- The Controversial Copy: BJP also claimed that Congress had destroyed the original copy of the Constitution, which reportedly featured images of Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
- Congress’ Response: Rahul Gandhi, during the event, advocated for a caste census, asserting that it would show the injustice faced by Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis. He criticized the BJP and RSS for attacking the Constitution and highlighted the need for justice through caste-based data collection.
- Maharashtra Elections: The controversy has added fuel to the political debate ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, scheduled for November 20, with vote counting on November 23.
This incident highlights ongoing political tensions and adds to the heated discourse surrounding constitutional values and electoral politics in India.
