Constitution in country under severe attack, says Rahul Gandhi

Raipur, May 17

Against the backdrop of the political developments in Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, saying the Constitution was under “severe attack” in the country where an atmosphere of fear prevailed.

Addressing a Jan Swaraj Sammelan here on the occasion of the silver jubilee of 73rd and 74th amendment in the Constitution related to local self-governance, Gandhi accused the BJP and the RSS of capturing every democratic institution in the country.

Referring to the the press conference called by Supreme Court judges on various issues relating to the apex court judiciary earlier this year, Gandhi said, “The judiciary is under fear, the press is under fear and even the BJP members of Parliament are under the same fear as they cannot speak a single word before the prime minister (Narendra Modi).”

“The Constitution is under severe attack in the country. In Karnataka, the MLAs are on one side and the governor on the other,” he alleged, adding, “One after another, you can see every democratic institution in the country, like the MPs, MLAs, the press and the Planning Commission...the RSS is trying to induct its people.”

The comments came against the backdrop of the dramatic developments that took place in Karnataka after the Assembly election there threw up a hung verdict. PTI