In a fiery speech during the special Lok Sabha debate on the 75-year journey of the Indian Constitution on Saturday (December 14), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP and the RSS, on the issues of social justice, caste representation, and economic inequality.
Gandhi drew parallels between Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar’s endorsement of Manusmriti and the Modi government’s policies, which he claimed undermine the principles of the Constitution.
“In front of us stand the people who follow a very different philosophical tradition. And I want to start my speech by quoting what the supreme leader, not of the BJP, but of the modern interpretation of the ideas of the RSS, about the Constitution of India and about how he (Savarkar) thinks India should be run. ‘The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worship-able after Vedas of our Hindu nation,’” Gandhi said.
Gandhi's remarks were met with calls of "shame" from the opposition members in the House.
Quoting Savarkar, Gandhi continued, “‘This book for centuries has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmriti is law’. These are the words of Savarkar.”
Gandhi questioned whether the BJP and RSS agreed with Savarkar’s views, accusing them of hypocrisy when they speak about upholding the Constitution.
“He (Savarkar) has clearly stated in his writing there is nothing Indian about the Constitution. He has written that our Constitution be superseded by Manusmriti. And is what the fight is about. Now it’s nice that all of you are so-called defending the Constitution. But I want to ask you, do you stand by our leaders’ words. Do you support, do you follow this book because when you speak in parliament about the Constitution, you are ridiculing, abusing and defaming Savarkar,” Gandhi added.
Gandhi positioned the Congress as the protector of India’s constitutional values, promising to fight for political, social, and economic equality.
Eklavya Analogy: A Critique of Inequality
Gandhi invoked the story of Eklavya from the Mahabharata, recounting how the talented archer, belonging to a lower caste, was denied the guidance of Guru Dronacharya and later forced to sacrifice his thumb, rendering him unable to practice archery.
He likened this to the Modi government’s alleged favouritism and policies that, according to him, “cut off the thumbs” of India’s disadvantaged youth.
He cited the Agnipath recruitment scheme, lateral entry into government services bypassing reservations, and leaked exam papers as examples of how opportunities for marginalized communities are being undermined.
He accused the government of favouring corporate interests, particularly the Adani Group, by awarding them lucrative contracts such as the redevelopment of Dharavi, which he said destroys small businesses.
Gandhi also highlighted the plight of the Dalit family in the 2020 Hathras rape-murder case. He alleged that the family remains confined to their home under threat, while the accused freely intimidate them.
Echoing his sister Priyanka Gandhi’s earlier remarks in the debate, he called this a stark example of the government’s failure to ensure justice for marginalized communities.
Call for a Caste Census and Reservation Reform
Reiterating the Congress’s promise of a nationwide caste census, Gandhi emphasized the need to lift the 50% cap on reservations.
He quoted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, saying, “If there is Political equality but no social and economic equality, political equality will be destroyed.”
Gandhi asserted that economic, political, and social inequality in the country has reached alarming levels, and a caste census would expose the injustices faced by disadvantaged communities.
“Our next step will be a caste census. We want to show the people whose thumbs have been chopped.” he declared.
“50 per cent cap on reservation will be lifted. I had promised a caste census, and it will be done, and a new kind of development will be done. We will break the wall of 50 per cent reservation. You can do what you want to do,” he said.
Gandhi’s remarks on reservations came a day after Union Minister Rajnath Singh challenged the Congress to present a concrete blueprint for caste-based quotas.
Gandhi responded by asserting that the INDIA bloc’s ideology revolves around protecting the Constitution and ensuring social justice, a vision that he claimed the BJP undermines.
Gandhi drew parallels between Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar’s endorsement of Manusmriti and the Modi government’s policies, which he claimed undermine the principles of the Constitution.
“In front of us stand the people who follow a very different philosophical tradition. And I want to start my speech by quoting what the supreme leader, not of the BJP, but of the modern interpretation of the ideas of the RSS, about the Constitution of India and about how he (Savarkar) thinks India should be run. ‘The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worship-able after Vedas of our Hindu nation,’” Gandhi said.
Gandhi's remarks were met with calls of "shame" from the opposition members in the House.
Quoting Savarkar, Gandhi continued, “‘This book for centuries has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmriti is law’. These are the words of Savarkar.”
Gandhi questioned whether the BJP and RSS agreed with Savarkar’s views, accusing them of hypocrisy when they speak about upholding the Constitution.
“He (Savarkar) has clearly stated in his writing there is nothing Indian about the Constitution. He has written that our Constitution be superseded by Manusmriti. And is what the fight is about. Now it’s nice that all of you are so-called defending the Constitution. But I want to ask you, do you stand by our leaders’ words. Do you support, do you follow this book because when you speak in parliament about the Constitution, you are ridiculing, abusing and defaming Savarkar,” Gandhi added.
Gandhi positioned the Congress as the protector of India’s constitutional values, promising to fight for political, social, and economic equality.
Eklavya Analogy: A Critique of Inequality
Gandhi invoked the story of Eklavya from the Mahabharata, recounting how the talented archer, belonging to a lower caste, was denied the guidance of Guru Dronacharya and later forced to sacrifice his thumb, rendering him unable to practice archery.
He likened this to the Modi government’s alleged favouritism and policies that, according to him, “cut off the thumbs” of India’s disadvantaged youth.
He cited the Agnipath recruitment scheme, lateral entry into government services bypassing reservations, and leaked exam papers as examples of how opportunities for marginalized communities are being undermined.
He accused the government of favouring corporate interests, particularly the Adani Group, by awarding them lucrative contracts such as the redevelopment of Dharavi, which he said destroys small businesses.
Gandhi also highlighted the plight of the Dalit family in the 2020 Hathras rape-murder case. He alleged that the family remains confined to their home under threat, while the accused freely intimidate them.
Echoing his sister Priyanka Gandhi’s earlier remarks in the debate, he called this a stark example of the government’s failure to ensure justice for marginalized communities.
Call for a Caste Census and Reservation Reform
Reiterating the Congress’s promise of a nationwide caste census, Gandhi emphasized the need to lift the 50% cap on reservations.
He quoted Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, saying, “If there is Political equality but no social and economic equality, political equality will be destroyed.”
Gandhi asserted that economic, political, and social inequality in the country has reached alarming levels, and a caste census would expose the injustices faced by disadvantaged communities.
“Our next step will be a caste census. We want to show the people whose thumbs have been chopped.” he declared.
“50 per cent cap on reservation will be lifted. I had promised a caste census, and it will be done, and a new kind of development will be done. We will break the wall of 50 per cent reservation. You can do what you want to do,” he said.
Gandhi’s remarks on reservations came a day after Union Minister Rajnath Singh challenged the Congress to present a concrete blueprint for caste-based quotas.
Gandhi responded by asserting that the INDIA bloc’s ideology revolves around protecting the Constitution and ensuring social justice, a vision that he claimed the BJP undermines.
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