Babulal Marandi slams Congress’s ‘Save Constitution Rally,’ dubs its 79 amendments hypocrisy

Mail News Service

Ranchi, May 4: BJP state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi launched a sharp attack on the Congress party over its ‘Save Constitution Rally’, calling it a political drama filled with hypocrisy. Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Marandi accused the Congress of repeatedly violating the Constitution and weakening democracy during its decades-long rule.

He claimed that during its 60 years in power, the Congress amended the Constitution 79 times with many among them aimed at consolidating power and engaging in appeasement politics. “Congress used the Constitution like its manifesto,” he said.

Marandi pointed out that the very first amendment to the Constitution was made by Jawaharlal Nehru, which curtailed the freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a) and placed restrictions on the press.

He further criticized Article 35A, calling it unconstitutional as it was introduced through a Presidential order rather than through Parliament, thus bypassing proper legislative procedure. Marandi accused the Congress of treating the Constitution and political power as its personal property.

Highlighting misuse of Article 356, he said the Congress frequently imposed President’s rule to destabilize non-Congress governments, citing 25 such amendments between 1966 and 1977 as proof. He condemned the 24th Constitutional Amendment, which overturned the Supreme Court’s Golaknath verdict, and the appointment of Justice A.N. Ray over senior judges, calling it political interference in the judiciary.

He described the 42nd Amendment made during the Emergency as a “mini Constitution” aimed at weakening the judiciary, Parliament, and fundamental rights. He also criticized the insertion of the words “socialist” and “secular” in the preamble, calling them appeasement-driven and against public sentiment.

Marandi condemned the Rajiv Gandhi government’s decision to override the Supreme Court’s verdict in the Shah Bano case, calling it a violation of the right to equality under Article 14.

He criticized Rahul Gandhi for allegedly tearing cabinet papers in Parliament and termed Congress protests against investigative agencies like the ED and judiciary as attacks on constitutional institutions.

Marandi accused Congress and its allies of making statements that placed religious law above the Constitution and condemned the recommendations of the Sachar and Ranganath Mishra Commissions on Muslim reservation as attempts to dilute the existing reservation system.

He demanded that the Congress apologize to the nation for its actions and history. BJP spokespersons Rafia Naz and Yogendra Pratap Singh were also present at the press meet.