Bhubaneswar, July 11: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, accusing the party of dividing the nation along religious and social lines.
He called on the youth to stand up and defend the Constitution in order to safeguard their own future.
"I urge the youth to wake up, rise, and protect the Constitution. Only then will you be safe. The BJP is creating divisions within society and across religions. Their goal is to divide us," Kharge said while addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao' rally in Bhubaneswar.
Kharge also criticized the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing them of making disparaging remarks about the poor and undermining the Indian Constitution.
He questioned the BJP's commitment to constitutional values, stating, "I recently heard that the BJP wants to remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution — words that are also part of the BJP’s own party constitution drafted in 1980. They claimed back then that they would adhere to the Indian Constitution. But do they follow it now? Everywhere you hear the RSS and BJP speaking against the poor and the Constitution."
Kharge’s comments came in response to recent remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who questioned the inclusion of the terms "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble of the Constitution. His statement sparked widespread backlash from opposition parties and leaders.
Speaking on June 26 at an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Hosabale claimed that these terms were forcibly added during the Emergency period and argued that their inclusion should be re-evaluated.
He further asserted that the Emergency represented not just a misuse of power but a deliberate effort to suppress civil liberties. "Millions were jailed, and press freedom was stifled. Those who imposed the Emergency and undermined democracy have never apologised. If they can't do it personally, they should at least apologise on behalf of their predecessors," Hosabale said.
His remarks were made during an event at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, jointly hosted by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture) and the Ambedkar International Centre.
(With agency inputs)
