New Delhi, November 10, 2024 — Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, condemning Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi for displaying a “red-covered” copy of the Constitution during a recent rally. Kharge accused the BJP of being “anti-Constitution” and “anti-reservation,” predicting that the people of Maharashtra, along with the rest of India, would respond strongly to the party’s stance in the upcoming state elections.
Fadnavis recently questioned Rahul Gandhi’s intentions, asking what message he hoped to convey by displaying the red-covered Constitution of India and accusing him of promoting a coalition of “anarchists.” Kharge, in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), responded with pointed questions, asking why BJP leaders were so disturbed by the Constitution.
“We are asking this question not only to the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Chief Minister of Assam, but also to Modi Ji, who had to bow down to the Constitution in Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections,” Kharge stated, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other BJP leaders. He accused BJP leaders of aligning the Constitution with “Naxalism” and questioned if they sought to push forward a defeated agenda of replacing it with Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text.
Kharge went on to accuse the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of being intolerant towards the Constitution’s guarantees of equal rights, particularly for marginalized groups like Dalits, tribals, and other backward classes. He referenced a historical editorial from an RSS publication, which he claimed had criticized the Constitution when it was first adopted in 1949, saying it contained “nothing Indian.” According to Kharge, this indicated a longstanding aversion within the Sangh to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, and an affinity towards Manusmriti.
“The whole country knows how the Sangh Parivar burned copies of the Constitution and effigies of Pandit Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar at that time!” Kharge asserted, accusing the BJP of undermining Ambedkar’s legacy.
Rahul Gandhi also joined in criticizing Fadnavis. On Thursday, Gandhi posted on X, condemning the former Maharashtra Chief Minister for reportedly linking Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution to “Naxalite” ideas. “This BJP ideology is an insult to Maharashtra’s son and the Constitution-maker, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar,” Gandhi wrote. He emphasized that the people of Maharashtra would not tolerate any affront to Ambedkar’s legacy, pledging that his Congress party, in alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), would safeguard the Constitution against any threats.
The Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance is mounting a united front in the state, campaigning under the banner of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the upcoming Assembly elections on November 20. Rahul Gandhi, who has been vocally supporting the cause of a caste census and other progressive reforms, held a rally in Nagpur titled the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan, or “Constitution Respect Convention,” where he prominently displayed the Constitution, bound in a predominantly red cover. Gandhi argued that by doing so, he was upholding Ambedkar’s vision of social justice and equality.
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Gandhi also highlighted the recent success of the MVA in the Lok Sabha elections, where the coalition gained considerable support by advocating for the protection of the Constitution and the rights of marginalized groups. “The people of Maharashtra fought for the Constitution and gave a big victory to the Maha Vikas Aghadi. They will not tolerate any insult to Babasaheb,” he declared, adding that Maharashtra’s people would counter every attack on the Constitution with unity and resolve.
Kharge’s and Gandhi’s remarks reflect a significant effort by the Congress to position itself as the defender of constitutional values, social justice, and Ambedkar’s legacy. The debate over the Constitution and social reforms like the caste census has emerged as a central theme in Maharashtra’s upcoming election, with both Congress and the BJP vying for public support on these issues.
The BJP, however, has argued that the Congress’s approach is divisive and accused it of inciting “anarchy” by aligning with groups the BJP views as radical. Fadnavis’s comments suggest that the BJP will continue to criticize the Congress’s stance, attempting to cast it as politically opportunistic and disruptive to national unity.
With Maharashtra’s assembly elections drawing close, both sides are doubling down on their strategies. The Congress-MVA alliance’s focus on the Constitution and caste census is aimed at galvanizing support among marginalized communities, while the BJP is positioning itself as the defender of national unity and order. This ideological clash has turned Maharashtra into a battleground where the interpretation of the Constitution and Ambedkar’s legacy could shape the outcome of the elections and signal broader shifts in Indian politics.
