Shivaji laid foundation of Constitution: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday credited 17th-century Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji, with laying the foundation for the Indian Constitution. Speaking at the unveiling of a 20-foot bronze statue of Shivaji at Bhagwa Chowk, Kasba Bawada in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Gandhi highlighted Shivaji’s inclusive and egalitarian principles as the basis for modern constitutional values.

He underscored the tolerance and inclusivity demonstrated by Shivaji, stating, “Our Constitution came into being from what Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj thought. If you take the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, then you must respect the Constitution and the ideology he stood for. Shivaji Maharaj always took along people from all sections of society.”

The Congress leader appeared to assert Shivaji’s legacy as one not only claimed by the Sangh Parivar but also deeply aligned with Congress’ values of inclusivity and social justice. This positioning comes as part of a broader attempt to align Shivaji’s historical stature with the party’s ideological stance.

The unveiling of the statue also gave Gandhi the opportunity to take a swipe at the BJP. Referring to a Shivaji statue unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sindhudurg in December last year, which collapsed in August, Gandhi remarked, “The collapse of the statue is symbolic of the BJP’s lack of faith in the Constitution, which draws heavily from the Maratha king’s ideas.”

He continued, “The BJP erected Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Rajkot Fort, Sindhudurg. But after a few days, it broke and fell. This happened because the BJP had bad intentions. BJP leaders wake up in the morning and make plans on how to dismantle the Constitution that Shivaji Maharaj envisaged.”

Pune court summons LoP on Oct 23

• A special court in Pune has summoned Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed by the grandnephew of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, accusing the Congress leader of making objectionable remarks against the Hindutva ideologue
• The court issued summons to Gandhi on Friday, asking him to appear before it on October 23. Last year, Savarkar’s grandnephew, Satyaki Savarkar, had lodged a complaint against the LS Leader of Opposition