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PM Modi made the comments during the ongoing debate on the Constitution’s 75th anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking during Lok Sabha debate on 75 years of Constitution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a direct attack on the Congress, saying one family has done everything to hurt the Constitution.
In a reply to the debate on 75 years of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, Modi stated, “I do not want to criticise anybody personally… but one family of Congress has done everything to hurt the Constitution… and I say one family because one family has ruled for 55 years.”
He further added, “This family has always challenged the Constitution.”
On Emergency
Speaking on the 1975 Emergency, PM Modi said that the Constitution was “torn apart” when it was just 25 years old. “The Emergency, imposed in 1975, stripped away all constitutional rights, turning the country into a jail. All the rights of the citizens were snatched and there was a clampdown on media,” he stated.
VIDEO | “…The Constitution was torn apart when it was completing 25 years; the Emergency was imposed (in 1975), all constitutional rights were snatched and the country was turned into a jail. All the rights of the citizens were snatched and there was a clampdown on media.… pic.twitter.com/SDyFjBYcwJ— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 14, 2024
The Prime Minister emphasised that Congress’ actions during this period had left a “stain”. “This sin on the forehead of Congress can never be erased. Whenever democracy will be discussed across the world, Congress’ sin will never be erased because democracy was strangled,” he added.
On Nehru’s Role
Referring to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Modi said the first Prime Minister had set the stage for altering the Constitution, a legacy which was later carried forward by his daughter, Indira Gandhi.
“The seeds sown by the first prime minister (Pandit JL Nehru) in changing Constitution was followed up by another prime minister, that was Indira Gandhi, who even overturned a verdict of the Supreme Court in 1971,” he said.
VIDEO | “The seeds sown by the first prime minister (Pandit JL Nehru) in changing Constitution was followed up by another prime minister, that was Indira Gandhi, who even overturned a verdict of the Supreme Court in 1971. She even clipped the wings of courts through… pic.twitter.com/oHFengFKTC— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 14, 2024
On Indira Gandhi
PM Modi continued his criticism of Indira Gandhi, pointing out how she had undermined the judiciary’s independence. He blamed her for using Constitutional amendments to seize control of the courts and diminish their power.
“She even clipped the wings of courts through Constitutional amendments to capture judiciary,” he said.
On Rajiv Gandhi
Modi further criticised Rajiv Gandhi, who became Prime Minister after the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi. He accused Rajiv Gandhi of continuing the attack on the Constitution.
Referring to the Shah Bano case, PM stated: “The legacy that began with former PM Pandit JL Nehru was carried forward by Indira Gandhi, and when Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister, he continued to attack the Constitution. The Supreme Court gave its verdict in the Shah Bano case, giving respect and honouring the rights of a woman. However, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi overturned the Supreme Court verdict in the Shah Bano case for vote bank politics.”
Gandhi Family’s Legacy
Further criticising the Gandhi family, Modi remarked that it had become a habit for them to insult and disregard the Constitution. He pointed out that the current generation of the family continues this legacy of attacking the Constitution, a behaviour that began long ago after “tasting blood.”
“Current generation of Gandhi family taking forward legacy of attacking Constitution after tasting blood long back,” he noted
(With inputs from agencies)
