Rahul says with guarantee PM Modi hasn't read constitution

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, claiming that the Prime Minister has not read the Indian Constitution, despite his government’s formal observance of Constitution Day. Gandhi made these comments during the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan (Save Constitution Campaign) event at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi. Gandhi said, “Had he read this book, he wouldn’t be doing what he has been doing every day,” in reference to Modi’s actions and governance.

In his speech, Gandhi underscored the Constitution’s values of truth, non-violence, and social justice. He described the Constitution as a “book of truth and non-violence” and emphasized that it reflects the ideas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Lord Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi questioned whether the current government’s actions align with these values, particularly in relation to the use of violence and dishonesty. He also expressed concern about the use of lies in governance, stating, “Does it [the Constitution] have Savarkar ji's voice? Is it written somewhere that violence should be used, people should be killed, or that the government should be run by using lies?”

The Congress leader also focused on the marginalization of certain communities, particularly Dalits, tribals, and backward classes. Gandhi pointed out that in India, the voices of these communities have historically been silenced. He claimed that the act of turning off his microphone during his speech was a symbolic gesture of this longstanding suppression. Gandhi remarked, “In this country, for the last 3,000 years, whoever talks about Dalits, tribals, backward classes, or the poor has had their mic switched off.” He added, “Switch off the mic as much as you want—I will say what I want to say.”

Gandhi also referenced the tragic case of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student who died by suicide in 2016 after being subjected to caste-based discrimination at the University of Hyderabad. Vemula’s death sparked national protests and led to widespread criticism of the government's handling of caste discrimination issues. Gandhi displayed a photo of Vemula during his speech, stating, “Behind me is Rohith Vemula’s photo; he wanted to speak, but his voice was taken away.” He used this moment to emphasize the continuing struggles of marginalized communities and the need for their voices to be heard.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended the official Constitution Day event in Parliament, where President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The event commemorated the adoption of the Indian Constitution 75 years ago, marking a significant milestone in India’s democratic history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the event, where Murmu delivered a speech reinforcing the importance of the Constitution in upholding democratic values and ensuring justice for all citizens. Despite attending the official celebrations, Gandhi’s remarks at the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan event highlighted his ongoing concerns about the current government’s interpretation and implementation of constitutional principles.