New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi flagged off the ‘Run for Ambedkar, Run for the Constitution’ marathon here on Sunday, urging people to unite against forces whose “ultimate aim is to finish the Constitution”.
Addressing the participants on the occasion, LoP Gandhi said, “The Constitution is the message of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Ji. If there had been no Constitution, we would not have been able to see India in this form.”
He alleged that individuals associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) aim to weaken the Constitution, while the Congress is committed to promoting the ideals of equality articulated by B.R. Ambedkar.
Taking aim at the ruling BJP-led Union government, the LoP added, “Today, people from RSS-BJP want to end India’s Constitution, because they do not want everyone in the country to be considered equal. Even if BJP people are seen folding their hands in front of Baba Saheb’s statue, but from the heart, their goal and thinking is to erase the Constitution.”
He said that people with the ideology of the RSS and the BJP want to destroy the ideas of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Constitution of India.
“Whatever they say or do, their ultimate aim is to finish the Constitution,” he said, adding, “They don’t want that everyone should be treated on par in India.”
“Even when they bow before the statue of Dr. Ambedkar, their ultimate aim remains the same — to destroy the Constitution,” LoP Gandhi said, adding, “Our aim is to protect and strengthen the Constitution, its ideals and its message.”
The event, organised by the All India Congress Committee Scheduled Caste Department in coordination with its OBC Department, witnessed significant public participation from Congress leaders and workers.
Rahul Gandhi thanked all the participants, who had come from different places, to take part in the marathon and help spread the message of the Constitution while remembering Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
Former Indian cricket captain and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin, who is currently a Minister in the Telangana government, also spoke at the event and emphasised the need to uphold constitutional values.
“I would like to say that this initiative is being carried out for the unity of our people and in honour of Dr. Ambedkar, who wrote our Constitution. Today, some people are trying to deflect and misinterpret the Constitution, presenting different and misleading views about it. I believe that we must protect and preserve the Constitution,” he said.
Several senior leaders, including Chairman of the AICC Scheduled Castes Department Rajendra Pal Gautam, K. Raju, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Delhi Congress President Devendra Yadav, Deepender S. Hooda, Mamata Bhupesh, Tanuj Punia, Karamvir Boudh and Rajkumar Verka, were also present at the event.
–IANS
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