Constitution under threat, says Sonia Gandhi
‘They are now having a discussion on commitment to it. There cannot be a bigger joke than this’
New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, leading the Opposition counter-attack on the first day of the Winter Session on Thursday, targeted the government on the issue of intolerance, alleging that the ideals and principles of the Constitution were under threat and being attacked deliberately.
While speaking about Dr Ambedkar’s contribution to the creation of the Constitution as chairman of its drafting committee, Mrs Gandhi said, “People who never had faith in the Constitution, nor had they participated in its drafting, are now swearing by it and are laying claim to it. They are now having a discussion on commitment to it. There cannot be a bigger joke than this,” she said.
Insisting that whatever being witnessed over the past few months was “totally against the principles” of the Constitution, she recalled Dr Ambedkar’s warning and attacked the Centre as she sought to highlight the Congress’ contribution to the drafting of the Constitution and the freedom struggle.
She said Dr Ambedkar had observed that howsoever good a Constitution may be, if those implementing it were bad people, then the ultimate effect would only be bad. At a time when the BJP is seeking to appropriate the legacy of Ambedkar, Mrs Gandhi used Dr Ambedkar’s praise of the Congress for its role in drafting the Constitution, indicating that the Congress could lay rightful claim to the creation of the document.
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