Those raising slogans to save the Constitution should know what their forefathers did to it, says Annamalai

Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai on Saturday, said those holding the Red Book and raising slogans to save the Constitution should learn what their father and grandmother did with the Constitution, chiding Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

He was delivering the keynote address at the Samvidhan Samman and launch of Samvidhana Badalayisiddu Yaru book authored by Vikas Puttur, organised by Citizens for Social Justice in Udupi. He said the ones who used B.R. Ambedkar for vote-bank politics and did injustice to him were alleging that the other party was insulting Ambedkar.

Mr. Annamalai said the rule of Morarji Desai, V.P. Singh, A.B. Vajpayee, and the present Narendra Modi term, were insufficient to set right the injustice and insult done to Ambedkar. He claimed that the eight amendments effected to the Constitution by the Modi government were not against the intent of Ambedkar; however the ones brought by the Congress were done to stay on power. He regretted that the Congress was indulging in a misinformation campaign when the Modi government wanted to bring amendments to ensure women reservation and other aspects spoken of by Ambedkar.

He further said the need of the hour was not saving the Constitution, but strengthening it. Injustice was done to Ambedkar in history by keeping reality under wraps. The younger generation should be told about the real history. There was no life nor future sans the Constitution, Mr. Annamalai said.

Gokuldas Barkur presided the programme. Samvidhan Samman convener Kediyur Uday Kumar Shetty, thinker Praphulla Malladi and others were present.

Published - January 11, 2025 10:38 pm IST