Constitution in danger, says Rahul

New Delhi, April 23

The twin burning issues of Dalit rights and women’s safety were at the centre of Rahul Gandhi’s blistering attack on Prime Minister Modi on Monday at the launch of the Congress party’s “Save the Constitution” campaign. The Congress president asserted that constitutional values had been endangered under the Modi government and promised the people that his party would not let that happen.

Institutions such as the Supreme Court were being trampled on and Parliament had been shut down by the government, the Congress chief alleged, claiming that if he was allowed to speak for 15 minutes on a host of issues, including the Nirav Modi scam, Modi would “run away”.

“This country belongs to each and every one of us. It is the duty of the Congress party to protect the Constitution, the institutions and every single one of our citizens,” he later tweeted.

Gandhi said while Modi often claimed that India’s global standing had improved under his government, the reputation of the country built over decades of Congress rule had “in fact taken a beating” in the last four years.

Going full-throttle, he alleged that institutions were being packed with people who believed in the RSS’ ideology.

Gandhi started his address to Congress workers at the Talkatora Stadium, where the party’s year-long programme was launched, by quoting from what he described as a statement by the Prime Minister. Modi saw spirituality in the sanitation work done by the Valmiki community, he said, adding, that this was the “mindset” of the Prime Minister.

There was no place for Dalits, weaker sections of the society and women in Modi’s heart, Gandhi claimed.

“The entire country understands our Prime Minister is interested in only one thing. Modi ji has an interest in only Modi ji. How does Narendra Modi ji become the Prime Minister (again)? This is the only question whose answers Modi ji wants,” Gandhi said.

“May Dalits die, atrocities are inflicted on minorities, may the country burn, may women be raped, Narendra Modi is interested in only becoming the prime minister (again). He is interested in doing only those things which will make him PM (again),” he said. — PTI