When a party that ruled India for over six decades resorts to crying wolf over the Constitution, one must wonder if it’s genuine concern or sheer desperation. The Indian National Congress’s latest outrage over the Narendra Modi-led government’s two-day debate on the Constitution in Parliament is not just misplaced—it reeks of irony. After all, the party now claiming to defend Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy is the same one that marginalized him during his lifetime.
The debate titled “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India” turned out to be a reality check for the Congress. Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and other BJP stalwarts systematically exposed the Congress’s long-standing hypocrisy. The highlight? Amit Shah’s sharp observation that “had the Congress taken God’s name as many times as Ambedkar’s, they might have reached heaven.” A pointed remark, no doubt, but one that underscored the Congress’s sudden embrace of Ambedkar as little more than political theatre.
The Congress’s response? Demanding Shah’s resignation—a move so predictable and uninspired that even political novices might roll their eyes. Perhaps they hoped to distract from the fact that their narrative of samvidhan kathre mein hai (the Constitution is under threat) was thoroughly dismantled during the debate.
The BJP’s leaders rightly pointed out the Congress’s problematic relationship with the Constitution. From Indira Gandhi’s Emergency-era amendments that curbed fundamental rights to the appeasement politics that shaped minority policies, Congress has hardly been the Constitution’s guardian angel.
Dr. Ambedkar himself faced humiliation at the hands of the Congress. Marginalized by Nehru and sidelined as Law Minister, he resigned in 1951. Ambedkar’s concerns about unchecked majoritarianism and divisive politics were prophetic, yet his vision for India was repeatedly sabotaged by the very party that now lionizes him.
Modern-day Indians deserve a transparent account of how Congress-era policies stagnated the country’s growth. For instance:
- Permanent UN Membership: India’s chances for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council were reportedly snubbed by Nehru’s misplaced idealism.
- Economic Backwardness: Pandering to vote banks ensured structural reforms were delayed, keeping India in a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.
- Judiciary and Institutional Erosion: Congress governments systematically undermined independent institutions, from manipulating appointments to silencing dissent.
Dr. Ambedkar envisioned an India where equality and opportunity reigned, yet Congress’s dynastic politics reduced governance to a game of patronage.
Instead of dramatizing harmless jabs in Parliament, the Congress should reflect on its historical baggage. A booklet compiling the robust rebuttals from BJP leaders during the debate would be an excellent tool for educating the younger generation. It’s time the myths surrounding India’s post-independence trajectory were replaced with facts.
Let’s remember: history isn’t written by those who shout the loudest; it’s rewritten by those who expose the truth. If Congress truly cared about the Constitution and Ambedkar’s legacy, it would stop weaponizing both for political gain. But then again, introspection was never their strong suit, was it?
