 Agencies
GORAKHPUR, Jan 20: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, said that the soul of any constitution lies in its preamble, adding that the Congress Party insulted Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar by inserting the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Constitution.
The Chief Minister was addressing the Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan program organized by the BJP Anusuchit Morcha in Gorakhpur on Monday. He pointed out that the original draft of the Indian Constitution, prepared by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, did not include the words "secular" and "socialist" in its preamble. He criticized the Congress party for disrespecting Ambedkar's vision by adding these words during the Emergency, under the cover of darkness, to serve their selfish interests.
He questioned the moral authority of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading the public by carrying the Constitution around while overlooking the amendments made by his party that neglected the rights of Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Backward Castes.
During his speech, the Chief Minister challenged leaders from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), asking why there is no provision for reservations in admissions or employment for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, or Backward Castes at institutions like Aligarh Muslim University or Jamia Millia Islamia.
He accused these leaders of remaining silent on this issue and highlighted the SP's history of sidelining Ambedkar's legacy.
He reminded the audience that the Kannauj Medical College was initially named after Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar but was renamed during the Samajwadi Party government. He stated that his government restored the name to honor Ambedkar.
He also recalled that when Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister in 2012, he announced plans to demolish memorials dedicated to Baba Saheb and other social justice icons. The BJP, Yogi said, firmly stood against such actions and vowed to protect the legacies of leaders who championed social justice.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Constitution embodies self-respect for any sovereign nation's citizens. It serves as a unifying thread, binding 140 crore Indians across the vast expanse of the country-from North to South and East to West-while symbolizing their collective dignity and pride.
He emphasized that the Constitution, crafted by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, elevated India to the world's largest democracy, rooted in constitutional values.
Baba Saheb, he said, was a visionary who rose above personal insults and grievances, always prioritizing the nation's and its people's welfare over his own preferences.
The Chief Minister expressed regret that a towering figure like Baba Saheb was not accorded due respect by the first government after independence. He recounted how, in 1952, the Congress went to great lengths to defeat Baba Saheb in the elections. Again, in 1954, during a by-election, Congress fielded one of his close associates against him to ensure his loss. Despite building grand memorials for their leaders, Congress failed to create a memorial honoring Baba Saheb, he pointed out. |
