Congress mutilated statute to promote ‘dynasty’: Nirmala
Rajya Sabha witnessed a fiery start to the two-day-long discussion to mark 75 years of the Constitution with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman launching a scathing attack on Congress for carrying out major amendments to the statute over the decades with the sole aim to help “one family” and promote “parivarvad” (dynasticism). She also called Congress “anti-women” for failing to get women’s reservation bill passed when it was in office.
Citing various amendments, ranging from the 42nd constitutional amendment that, among other things, amended the Preamble to insert ‘socialist and secular’, and enactment of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986, to nullify a Supreme Court verdict in favour of an old Muslim divorcee woman, the FM said none of these passed the four-fold criteria – economic good, social intent, due process, and constitutional spirit.
Her attack drew strong protests from Congress benches. Opening the debate from treasury side, Sitharaman cited example of the first amendment carried out under Jawaharlal Nehru to introduce curbs on freedom of press.
She pointed out that during debates in the constituent assembly, B R Ambedkar had opposed incorporation of ‘socialism’ in the Constitution on grounds that the country’s growth trajectory could not be straight-jacketed. “Still, they put it in the amendment after putting the entire opposition in jail. Only five members voted against it in Lok Sabha, whereas in Rajya Sabha, it was passed unanimously because those who would have opposed it were in jail,” she added.
Taking on Congress for claiming to be defender of the Constitution, the FM referred to supersession of “inconvenient” judges by the Indira Gandhi govt and recalled Congress’ espousal of the concept of “committed judiciary” to say that the party was not sincere in expressing concern about integrity of institutions.
She was combative and ceded no quarter when Congress’ Jairam Ramesh argued that while attacking Indira for controversial amendments during the Emergency, she should also point out that the former PM voted for their annulment. “Those amendments were brought by the Morarji Desai govt and her vote was part of a process. People had taught a lesson to her by defeating Congress and she learnt her lesson,” Sitharaman said. She was supported by BJP chief and leader of the House J P Nadda.
Sitharaman pointed out that renowned lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni were jailed in 1949. She said Majrooh was arrested after he refused to apologise for reciting a poem against Nehru at a mill workers’ meet. “That is the level of tolerance they have and they go around with the Constitution in their hand saying there is fear in the country and the Constitution is under threat,” she added. She highlighted other instances, including banning of the film ‘Kissa Kursi Ka’ because it questioned Indira and her son.
The FM termed Congress “anti-women” for not passing women’s reservation bill under pressure of its coalition partners. She said Rajiv Gandhi had 426 members in Lok Sabha and 159 members in Rajya Sabha but the party did not have the conviction to pass the bill. “Clearly, they have always been anti-women. Shah Bano case is a clear example,” she said.
Kharge: PM bhakti taking us towards dictatorship
In a no holds barred attack, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused PM Narendra Modi and BJP of “misleading the country” by “twisting facts” and speaking “untruths” about first PM Jawaharlal Nehru in Parliament. He demanded that the PM apologise for “distorting facts” about Nehru’s letter on reservation to states.
Opening the two-day discussion on the Constitution from the opposition side, Kharge said ‘bhakti’ of the PM is taking the country towards dictatorship. “Democracy in the country should not turn into dictatorship,” he warned. The Congress chief further accused BJP of being against reservations, claiming that was the reason the party was opposed to caste census.
Referring to the PM’s statement in LS on Saturday, Kharge said Modi “misled” the House by saying there was no elected govt between 1947-1952 when Congress had illegally amended the Constitution. The PM on Saturday and FM Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday slammed Congress for the then interim govt led by Nehru bringing the first amendment to curb freedom of press.
On the first amendment which was brought through an ordinance in 1951, Kharge said it was done only to preserve reservations of SCs, STs, and BCs as these had been set aside by Supreme Court. He quoted a letter from Sardar Patel to Nehru, in which Patel had suggested that the amendment was the only remedy. The Congress chief said the amendment was done by constituent assembly whose members included Syama Prasad Mookerjee, one of the founders of Jana Sangh. He said the other aspect of this amendment was aimed to stop communal propaganda.
Referring to the PM’s speech in Lok Sabha, Kharge said, “Modi distorted facts about Nehru’s letters to CMs for which he should apologise to people of the country. He must apologise in both the Houses.” On the Emergency, Kharge said that it was a mistake that was rectified and the result was that Indira Gandhi came back to office with a thumping majority in 1980. Kharge also asked why PM Modi, who was moving around the whole world, had not been able to take out time to visit violence-hit Manipur.