Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday slammed the Congress for claiming the BJP will change the country's Constitution.
Addressing a rally for BJP candidate Charansingh Thakur in Katol, he said it was the Congress which had "distorted" the Constitution for self-interest and had also imposed Emergency in 1975.
Maharashtra assembly polls will be held on November 20, while results will be announced on November 23.
"We will not change Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution nor will we allow anyone to do so. The basic structure of the Constitution cannot be changed," he said.
The minister also cited the Supreme Court judgment in the landmark Kesavananda Bharti case to buttress his point.
"The Constitution's salient features like freedom of speech, democracy, socialism, secularism as well as fundamental rights cannot be changed by anyone. Indira Gandhi during Emergency, distorted the Constitution. In the history of the country, it was Congress which did the sin of distorting the Constitution and they now blame us," Gadkari asserted.
Hailing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said the emperor gave people "Shiv Shahi" akin to Lord Ram's 'Ram Rajya', which Mahatma Gandhi always said must be established in the country.
"If you want to establish Ram Rajya, then it is not in the hands of the leaders but the people. Do not vote on the basis of caste, race, religion and language. Man is not big because of his caste but due to his qualities. Untouchability and casteism should be destroyed," he said.
Leaders who can't win on merit use caste for electoral gains, he added.
"You go to the best person for food and health without seeing their caste. Your future will not change till you elect honest, non-corrupt leaders and party," he said.
The Mahayuti government has brought in several welfare schemes for the people and do any of these come with the rider that Muslims and Dalits cannot apply, he asked.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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