Patna: (Nov 13)Union minister Chirag Paswan on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, his family and party leaders of disrespecting the Constitution and its architect, BR Ambedkar, while defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Constitution in pocket” remark.
Responding to journalists’ questions about Modi’s apparent dig at the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Paswan said the prime minister had demonstrated his respect for the Constitution by bowing before a copy of it upon assuming office.
“The prime minister is right. Upon assuming power, he had prostrated before a copy of the Constitution and made it clear to the nation that it would be the guiding force behind administration. It is the Constitution through which Babasaheb Ambedkar gave voice to the poor”, he said.
“On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi speaks of giving respect to the Constitution but struts about carrying a copy in his pocket and whips it out before the people whenever he wishes. The Constitution is not an object to be waved casually in public. But then Rahul Gandhi and his family have never respected the Constitution or its author”, alleged the Dalit leader.
Paswan, who heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), also claimed, “It was Rahul Gandhi’s party which had conspired to ensure the defeat of Babasaheb Ambedkar when he contested an election. My late father Ram Vilas Paswan persuaded the VP Singh government, in 1989, to put up a statue of Ambedkar in Parliament. The Congress, which had been in power until then, did not care.
The Union minister was also asked about speculation that the Modi government was planning to call a special session of Parliament to push through a controversial delimitation bill, which may also operationalise the previously passed bill on women’s reservation.
He replied, “The bill aims at ensuring that women’s strength in Lok Sabha reaches one third of the total number without affecting those seats from which men are being elected. Hence, the delimitation bill also proposes to increase the number of MPs from all states in such a way that those with lower population growth are not at a disadvantage”.
“Let me tell you categorically that this is a proposal to which many MPs of the Congress have no objection. They have said so in many off-the-record conversations. But their leadership is not amenable to reason. Hence we see the opposition party shying away from debates in the House but holding mock Parliament at (AICC president) Kharge’s house”, said the Hajipur MP, referring to the recently held event which pressed for impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
