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Gandhi said the Constitution embodies the soul of India and the principles envisioned by national icons such as Birsa Munda, Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi made these comments while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar. (AP file photo)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt the Constitution’s “red book” was empty as he had never read it.
Addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar, Gandhi said the Constitution embodies the soul of India and the principles envisioned by national icons such as Birsa Munda, Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
“BJP has objections about the red color of the book (which Gandhi showed at the rally). But we don’t care whether it is red or blue. We are committed to protecting (the Constitution) and are ready to lay down our lives as well. Modi ji feels the Constitution (book) that I have brought it’s empty because he doesn’t know what it’s about. He hasn’t read it in his life,” Gandhi said.
“But Modiji, this book is not empty. It has the soul and knowledge of India. It contains the principles envisioned by national icons like Birsa Munda, Buddha, Mahatma Phule, Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi. If you call the book empty, you insult the icon,” he said.
The Congress wants adivasis, Dalits and backward classes to get representation in decision-making, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
In particular, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in their campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra polls sought to link Gandhi’s “red book” with “urban Naxalism”.
Gandhi said that PM Modi and BJP insulted the national icon by making such comments.
The BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) insulted tribals by calling them “vanvasi” instead of adivasis, he alleged.
“Adivasis are the first owners of the country and have the first right to jal (water), alas (forest) and zameen (land). But the BJP wants adivasis to remain in the forest without rights. Birsa Munda fought for this and gave his life,” Gandhi said.
Highlighting the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) manifesto, Gandhi said that women, farmers and youth will be protected with provisions like Rs 3,000 per month and free bus travel, farm loans up to Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4,000 per month assistance. unemployed youth.
He reiterated his demand for a caste census, saying it would help determine the number of adivasis, Dalits and backward classes in Maharashtra and their share of resources.
Today, out of eight percent of the tribal population, their share in decision-making is only one percent, Gandhi said.
He also said that five lakh jobs from Maharashtra have been grabbed as various big ticket projects have been shifted to other states.
“Our government will not allow this. Projects meant for Maharashtra will remain here, while those meant for Gujarat will remain there,” he said.
The Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor project, the Tata-Airbus manufacturing unit and the iPhone company, a drug park and a petrochemical plant were taken out of the country, Gandhi alleged.
Of the 90 officials who run the government, only one is from the adivasi community, he said.
“Out of the Rs 100 that will be spent on these 90 officers, the adivasi officer takes a decision of only 10 paise. For every 100 people, there are eight adivasis, while your participation is 10 paise of Rs 100. The adivasi officer is not given a good department. We have to change this,” the Congress leader said.
He sought to know the number of Dalits, adivasis, backward class members working in media houses and top companies.
“There are some tribal workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. My aim is to ensure that people from backward, tribal and Dalit communities get legitimate participation in the power structure and decision making,” he said.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from the feed of syndicated news agency – PTI)
- location:
Maharashtra, India
