Parliament Winter Session: Union Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Friday criticised the Congress for its alleged inability to respect the independence and autonomy of institutions, claiming that the party has consistently undermined the core principles of the Constitution.
During a debate in the Lok Sabha on the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,” the Defence Minister said that the Congress had deliberately ignored the contributions of various leaders in shaping the Constitution and had attempted to “hijack and appropriate” its creation.
He accused the Congress of repeatedly disrespecting the Constitution and its spirit, asserting, “It could not tolerate the independence and autonomy of institutions. It always tried to destroy the basic principles of the Constitution.”
Singh also mocked opposition leaders, saying, “Talk of protection of the Constitution does not seem appropriate coming from it. These days, I see many opposition leaders keep the Constitution in their pockets. Actually, this is what they have learnt from childhood, they have seen their families keep the Constitution in their pockets for generations.”
In contrast, Singh said that the BJP respects the Constitution and has never compromised the independence of institutions.
He said that the Constitution’s emphasis on religious freedom, noting that it explicitly states that the state would be secular and not aligned with any religion. “This was stated by those who were dubbed communal by people of the Congress,” Singh remarked.
Describing the Constitution as a reflection of the collective will of the people, Singh said it touches upon all aspects of life—social, economic, political, and cultural—and provides a roadmap for India’s growth and its place on the global stage. He also acknowledged the contributions of those who were not part of the Constituent Assembly but whose ideas shaped the document, mentioning figures like Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, and Veer Savarkar.