The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday levelled fresh accusations against the Congress regarding the Constitution, which has become a subject of political wrangling in the poll-bound Maharashtra. The Maharashtra BJP has now accused the Congress of distributing blank copies of the Constitution at an event in Nagpur led by Rahul Gandhi. Ironically, the theme of the event was protecting and upholding the Constitution of India.
BJP's Maharashtra unit posted a video on social media, showing a book with 'Constitution of India' written on the front cover but containing only blank pages except for the preamble on the first page. This video quickly went viral on the internet, triggering another row between the parties ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections in the state.
The BJP trained guns at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress over the blank "Red Book", calling the party and its leaders anti-Constitution and anti-reservation. The BJP also claimed that the grand old party plans to remove the laws and articles written by Babasaheb Ambedkar and thus wants to keep India's Constitution just as blank.
"The Constitution is just an excuse; the real aim is to promote the Red Book. In the name of love, only hatred is being spread...The Congress wants to keep India’s Constitution just as blank. They plan to remove all the articles and laws written by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. That’s why Rahul Gandhi had once predicted the end of reservations," the Maharashtra BJP tweeted along with a video of the blank book.
"Remember, respected Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and his constitution are not just election issues—they are the foundation of India and the lives of Indians. That’s why the people will teach the anti-Constitution Congress a lesson," it added. "They boast about the Constitution, but Congress’s entire agenda is false."
Maharashtra Congress Hits Back
Following this, the Maharashtra Congress hit back at the BJP accusing it of spreading a false narrative and alleged that the BJP had put the cover of the Constitution on a blank book. The Congress also reiterated the charge that the saffron party wants to do away with the Constitution.
"The whole of India knows that BJP and RSS are the enemies of the real constitution, no matter how much they try to spread a false narrative by putting the cover of the Constitution on a blank book," it said in a post on X.
"BJP's strategy is to end the Constitution by making false accusations against those who saved the Constitution. But under the leadership of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Constitution-loving people of the country will never allow this cunning plan of BJP to succeed," the party added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra LoP Vijay Wadettiwar clarified that a notepad and pen was given to the dignitaries who came to the conference in Nagpur.
"Making videos of these notepads and using them to make frivolous accusations doesn’t seem to show much intelligence! Why did the BJP get so scared just because Rahul Gandhi came to Nagpur?"he asked in a post on X.
He further said that the Congress will expose those spreading false narratives. "To those spreading false narratives, don’t be afraid... The Constitution and Rahul Gandhi will continue to expose you from time to time! This is just the beginning," he added.
Fadnavis Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Red-Covered Constitution
On Wednesday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lambasted Rahul Gandhi for holding a "red book," claiming that it indicated an inclination towards "urban Naxals and anarchists." The colour of the Constitution copy carried by Rahul Gandhi became a point of contention even ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year.
"My allegations made two days back against Rahul Gandhi have proved true about his inclination towards 'urban Naxals'. He showed the red book and tried seeking help (politically) from urban Naxals and anarchists," Fadnavis said. "Rahul Gandhi indulges in such drama regularly. He, on a daily basis, insults the Constitution in some or other way," he added.
At the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Nagpur on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi held a slim copy of the Constitution with a red cover and accused the BJP and its ideological mentor, RSS, of attacking the Constitution and the "voice of the country".
He reiterated his call for a nationwide caste census, stressing the exercise will happen and that the Congress will "break the wall of 50 per cent" reservation limit.