Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Rahul Gandhi says Modi has not read Constitution; PM hits back at 'shahzada'

Mumbai: As the high-pitch campaign for the Vidhan Sabha polls reached crescendo in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi fired salvos at each other on Tuesday on the Constitution of India, reservations and caste census, which are among the the most important poll issues in Maharashtra.

On Tuesday post-noon, Modi and Gandhi addressed mega-rallies around the same time in Solapur and Gondia districts, respectively - during which they charged at each other.

“Our Constitution speaks about unity, love and equality…every religion is equally respected…there is no mention of hatred anywhere in it…I guarantee that Modi has not even read it. Because if he had read the Constitution, he would have respected what is written in it,” said Gandhi.

Gandhi said that the Constitution reflects the thoughts of Lord Buddha, Basavanna, Narayan Guru, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

“Democracy exists in the country because of the Constitution. Institutions in India have also emerged from it. However, Modi, BJP and RSS attack it all the time,” said Gandhi, leader of the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc.

“Only hatred and violence are being spread in politics. That's why we came up with the word 'mohabbat'. Hatred can only be eradicated by love. This is the thinking of the Congress party and Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

Gandhi also assured that the Congress and its allies would undertake a comprehensive caste census.

On the other hand, Modi said that the Congress wants to end the rights given to the poor and deprived people of the country by the Constitution.

“The 'shahzada' has gone abroad and openly talked about ending reservation. Congress' desire to end reservation is not new. There was a time when Congress used to openly give big advertisements in newspapers against reservation. Today is the age of internet, now those anti-reservation statements of Congress are available on internet and social media,” said Modi leading the charge of BJP-led NDA.

Further charging at the Congress, he said that for decades, Congress governed the country but left many issues unresolved. “They kept people preoccupied with various problems, which has become their typical work culture,” Modi said.

“As a result of this approach, the farmers in Maharashtra have suffered for many years. In this region, Congress and its allies failed to address irrigation issues effectively. In contrast, we have focused on resolving these problems. Thanks to our efforts, the water table in several villages in Solapur is now rising,” Modi said, hitting out at the erstwhile Congress or Congress-led governments in Maharashtra.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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