In her first speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi delivered a strong critique of the ruling BJP government, accusing them of undermining the Constitution of India. Speaking during a discussion on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution's adoption, Priyanka said, "Samvidhaan, not Sangh ka Vidhaan"—emphasizing that India’s Constitution, and not any political ideology, is the true guiding principle of the nation.
The Wayanad MP focused on the vital role the Constitution plays in protecting the rights of the people. "It is our suraksha kavach—our shield of protection," she said, highlighting how it ensures justice, unity, and the right to speak freely. Priyanka accused the BJP-led NDA government of continuously trying to weaken and dismantle this shield over the past decade. “While those in power claim to be the guardians of the Constitution, their actions show the opposite. Over the last 10 years, they have made every attempt to undermine the very document that safeguards our rights,” she said.
Priyanka also pointed out the BJP's sudden focus on the Constitution in the aftermath of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She suggested that if the election results had been different, the ruling party would have already begun changing the Constitution. "The people have spoken. The Constitution will remain untouched, and the BJP now knows that any attempt to alter it will fail," she said, referring to the party's narrow win in the 2019 elections.
The Congress leader also addressed the growing call for a caste census, which she argued is essential for fair policy-making. "The demand for a caste census is gaining momentum across the country. The ruling party now talks about it because they were forced to respond after the election results. A caste census will help create policies that reflect the true realities of society and cater to the needs of all communities," Priyanka stated.
In an emotional moment, she recounted a meeting with a family from Sambhal, where she had met two brothers, Adnan and Uzair, whose father, a tailor, had been killed by the police. She shared how the father's dream was to educate his sons, and one of the brothers had vowed to become a doctor to fulfill that dream. "This hope, nurtured by the Constitution, gives the people the strength to fight for justice," she said, stressing the importance of protecting the values enshrined in the Constitution.
The speech, which opened the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, was a clear message from the Congress party. Priyanka Gandhi, with her strong words and personal anecdotes, reinforced the party’s commitment to defending the Constitution in the face of what she sees as BJP's attempts to alter its foundations.
Concluding her address, Priyanka issued a stern warning to the BJP, stating that no matter how many times they try, the Constitution remains the supreme law of the land. "We will not allow anyone to change it. It is the Constitution that binds us as a nation, and we will stand united to protect it," she said.
Her speech, which was heard by a rapt audience including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, marked a defining moment in Congress’s ideological opposition to the BJP, putting the Constitution at the center of their fight against the ruling party.
