Rahul Gandhi slams BJP over intentions, ideology & bid to destroy Constitution

Kolhapur: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Saturday slammed the BJP over the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Malvan in Aug, blaming it on the party’s intentions. He also alleged that the BJP was trying to destroy the Constitution.

“Shivaji Maharaj was an idol for courage, sensitivity and justice. Congress and INDIA bloc are following in the footsteps of Shivaji Maharaj. BJP is, however, standing opposite and is attempting to destroy the Constitution,” Gandhi said during his visit to Kolhapur on Saturday to inaugurate the ‘Shashtradhari’ statue of Shivaji Maharaj at Bhagwa Chowk.

Gandhi said there was a struggle between two ideologies, one which believed in equality and the other that strongly opposed it. “Those who bow before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should respect and protect the Constitution,” he said.

Attacking the BJP over the collapse of the statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan in Aug, Gandhi said, “The intention (niyat) was not good. Therefore, the statue collapsed. They (central govt) did not even let the President of India, who belongs to the adivasi community, participate in the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha and the inauguration of the new Parliament building. This is not a political fight. This is a fight of ideology.”

Attacks RSS, PM over caste census

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi reiterated his party’s commitment to carry out a caste-based census, while speaking at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan organised by civil society activists in Kolhapur. He said Congress would get the caste-based census passed in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. “It will be an x-ray of India. RSS people say that they will not let it happen. What is the problem? They don’t want 90% of the population to know where the wealth of the country is concentrated, who are controlling systems and institutions,” Gandhi said, claiming that the exercise, once completed, would change politics in the country. Taking on PM Narendra Modi, he said, “During the Lok Sabha election, PM Modi was boasting of 400-plus seats. People, however, quietly showed him his place. We were happy when Modi touched the Constitution to his forehead. But the truth is that he doesn’t believe in the Constitution.”

Visits dalit household, lunches with family

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited a dalit household at Uchgaon village on the outskirts of Kolhapur city on Saturday morning, taking the family members and even the politicians accompanying him by surprise.

Ajaykumar Tukaram Sanade and his wife Anjana took a while to grasp the situation after police vans stopped at their doorstep. Anjana said was served a hot cup of tea soon after he entered into the house. Gandhi then asked her about food and told her that he hadn’t eaten anything morning. “He told me that he would help me in the kitchen. He helped me cook kanda pat (spring onion) and harbhara leaves (chickpea greens), besides brinjal groundnut curry. I made him bhakri. He ate all the three sabjis and a bhakri,” Anjana said. Gandhi spent about an hour with the family members and gifted a copy of the Preamble of the Constitution to them.

Courtesy : TOI

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