Mumbai, Nov 2 (PTI) The BJP and RSS are the real opponents of democracy and the Constitution and the ruling party’s decision to organise rallies under the slogan ‘Save Democracy, Save the Constitution’ was a case of the “pot calling the kettle black”, Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said on Monday.
The RSS did not accept the Constitution drafted under the leadership of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, while BJP leaders had openly spoken about changing it, he further claimed.
Sapkal’s statements came in the backdrop of rallies held by the BJP across the nation to counter the INDI bloc’s ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi a day earlier.
“The BJP has the Constitution on its lips but the Manusmriti in its heart. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s criticism of the Congress on the issue is laughable,” Sapkal said.
Alleging that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Devendra Fadnavis dispensation in Maharashtra came to power in 2024 through electoral malpractice, he said the BJP is rattled after being exposed over ‘vote chori’.
The Modi government was taking control of constitutional institutions and appointing people affiliated with the RSS and BJP at key institutions and universities, Sapkal further alleged.
“The Election Commission of India is not taking action against the ruling party. The government’s interference in the judiciary has increased,” the Congress leader claimed.
Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Sapkal claimed the Modi-Shah government, with the help of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was depriving 13 crore citizens of their voting rights.
Targeting Fadnavis, Sapkal said the CM must disclose figures of infiltrators apprehended in the country instead of using the issue to justify action that could deprive citizens of their voting rights.
“Regime change in a democracy means a change of government through elections. Political parties exist to facilitate this process. Why are Modi, Shah and Fadnavis so afraid of it?” he asked.
Fadnavis on Monday alleged that the real agenda behind the “regime change” campaign by Congress and Rahul Gandhi is to subvert the democratic system, the Constitution and institutions.
Sapkal also recalled the BJP’s ‘400 paar’ slogan during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, alleging that it reflected the party’s intention to change the Constitution. Several BJP leaders had openly spoken about changing the Constitution after coming to power, he claimed.
Questioning the BJP’s objection to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi carrying a red-covered copy of the Constitution, Sapkal said the Lok Sabha LoP was merely displaying the Constitution drafted under Ambedkar’s leadership.
“The BJP has been targeting former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, as well as Rahul Gandhi, despite being in power for 13 years. Modi and Shah see Rahul Gandhi even in their sleep,” Sapkal said.
He also described the BJP and Fadnavis’s recent expressions of affection for Ambedkar as “fake”, alleging that the party had previously spoken about changing the Constitution. PTI MR BNM
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