Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP in Parliament on Saturday, invoking Hindutva ideologue V. D. Savarkar’s critique of the Indian Constitution to accuse the ruling party of hypocrisy. Gandhi alleged that while the BJP claims to protect the Constitution, its ideological roots lie in the Manusmriti, a text Savarkar deemed superior to the Constitution.
Quoting Savarkar, Gandhi said, “The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worshippable after the Vedas and has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmriti is law.” Gandhi challenged the BJP, asking, “Do you stand by your leader’s words? When you speak of defending the Constitution, you are defaming Savarkar. Do you accept his vision or reject it?”
Gandhi further accused the BJP government of perpetuating social and economic inequality, drawing a parallel between the epic story of Eklavya in the Mahabharata and the policies of the current regime. “Just as Dronacharya demanded Eklavya’s thumb, this government is cutting the thumbs of the poor, Dalits, farmers, and backward classes by creating monopolies for Adani, introducing schemes like Agnipath, and ignoring systemic corruption like paper leaks,” he said.
Referring to his visit to Hathras, where a Dalit woman was allegedly gangraped and murdered, Gandhi said the victim’s family was confined to their house while the accused roamed free. “Where in the Constitution is it written that the victim’s family should be imprisoned while the perpetrators walk free? This is not the Constitution’s vision—it’s yours,” he declared, directly targeting the BJP.
Accusing the BJP of fostering division and societal violence, Gandhi cited recent incidents like the Sambhal violence and claimed that the BJP’s ideology thrives on inequality. “The INDIA alliance stands to protect the Constitution that brought political, social, and economic equality. The BJP and RSS want to return to the Manusmriti days,” he said, adding that a caste census and the removal of the 50% reservation cap would pave the way for a more equitable society.
Gandhi also invoked historical figures like Ambedkar, Periyar, Phule, and Basavanna, calling them the true defenders of equality and the Constitution. He quoted B. R. Ambedkar: “If there is political equality but no social and economic equality, political equality will be destroyed,” stressing that the BJP has already eroded the balance of equality in the country.
On the BJP’s repeated references to Savarkar, Gandhi claimed his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi viewed Savarkar as someone who “compromised” with the British. “Savarkar wrote letters of apology to the British. Meanwhile, Gandhi ji went to jail, Nehru ji went to jail, but Savarkar begged for forgiveness,” Gandhi remarked.
Gandhi concluded his fiery speech by reiterating his stance: “The country will be run by the Constitution, not by Manusmriti. The Congress and the INDIA alliance are the protectors of the Constitution, while the BJP and RSS are its opponents.” Posting his remarks on social media, Gandhi declared, “This is a battle for the soul of India—a battle between Manusmriti and the Constitution.”
