Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of undermining the Constitution, emphasizing that such actions were unacceptable to the Opposition INDIA bloc. Gandhi, along with Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, led a protest in the Parliament premises, holding copies of the Constitution.
“We will not allow the Prime Minister and Amit Shah to attack the Constitution. This message is clear as we held the Constitution while taking the oath today,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters ahead of the 18th Lok Sabha session. He asserted that the Constitution of India was sacrosanct and beyond any interference.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a media address before the Parliament session, indirectly criticized the Congress over the Emergency imposed in 1975, describing it as a dark chapter in India’s democracy. He expressed confidence that the new generation would uphold the Constitution and prevent any repetition of such actions.
Amid controversies over the appointment of Bhartruhari Mahtab as pro-tem speaker, leaders from the INDIA bloc protested inside the Parliament premises with copies of the Constitution. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the ruling party for disregarding key national issues and advocated for the appointment of K Suresh as Pro-tem Speaker, highlighting its significance for the Dalit community.
Members of the Samajwadi Party, including Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, arrived at Parliament carrying copies of the Constitution, while Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandhopadhyay and Kalyan Banerjee accused the Modi government of violating constitutional provisions.
“We demand protection for the country’s Constitution,” Bandhopadhyay stated, criticizing unilateral actions by the central government in agreements with Bangladesh without consulting the West Bengal government. Kalyan Banerjee echoed this sentiment, alleging that the appointment of the pro-tem speaker disregarded constitutional norms and precedents.
