FM Nirmala Sitharaman accuses Congress of undermining Constitution on 75th anniversary debate
PTC Web Desk: As India celebrated the 75th anniversary of its Constitution, a heated debate was witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accusing the Congress of repeatedly amending the Constitution to serve its interests. Sitharaman specifically targeted India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for introducing the first Constitutional amendment in 1951, which she claimed curtailed the freedom of speech.
Niramala Sitharaman said, “India prides itself on freedom of expression even today. However, the first interim government, led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, introduced a Constitutional amendment to curb Indians' freedom of speech. Nehru, who publicly praised press freedom, deplored press scrutiny of his government.”
According to Sitharaman, the amendment was a contradiction of the values India holds dear. She stated that while freedom of the press was celebrated, the move to amend the Constitution betrayed Nehru’s discomfort with media criticism of his government.
Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched similar attacks on the Congress, accusing the party of using Constitutional amendments to consolidate power during its decades-long rule. The leaders argued that these amendments were not meant to strengthen democracy but to undermine the spirit of the Constitution and centralize authority.
Congress leaders were quick to counter these allegations, defending their party’s role in shaping and upholding India’s democracy. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of lacking credibility on such issues, stating, “The BJP never fought for the country’s freedom. How can such people criticise Nehru? It is time for introspection.”
The opposition also highlighted the ideological background of the BJP’s parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Referring to debates in the Constituent Assembly, they alleged that the RSS had initially opposed the Constitution, the national flag, and symbols like the Ashoka Chakra. “Those who once hated the Constitution and the flag are now lecturing us on democracy,” a Congress leader remarked.
The opposition further criticised Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of distorting historical facts. They claimed that Modi had misrepresented Nehru’s correspondence with state governments to vilify Congress. “The Prime Minister should apologise for misleading the country,” said an opposition leader.
Key points of debate
- PTC NEWS
