Congress tried to destroy the basic structure of the Indian Constitution: B L Santhosh

Mangaluru: BJP National General Secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh accused Congress of using the Constitution and Ambedkar as a 'tool' to further their agenda.

"Now Congress can no longer deceive the people with these names. We will not allow them to deceive the public either," he said.

Santhosh was speaking at the release of the book Samvidhana Badalisidavaru Yaaru? authored by BJP leader Vikas Kumar P, organised by Citizens for Social Justice on Saturday.

He accused the Congress of always working against the aspirations of B R Ambedkar since the formation of Constituent Assembly and insulting Ambedkar and his family by not allowing his last rites in Delhi and by not constructing a memorial for him.

It was BJP which honored Ambedkar by developing five sacred sites associated with Dr Ambedkar's life, collectively known as 'Panchteerths'.

Like Rama, Krishna, Shivaji, Dr Ambedkar also contributed values to the nation, he said, adding that RSS volunteers recite Ambedkar's name daily during morning prayers.

However, Congress, which now frequently mentions Ambedkar, neither respected him during his lifetime nor after his death.

He alleged that Congress tried to destroy the basic structure of the Indian Constitution with maximum amendments. Some of the amendments were aimed to fulfill the personal gains of the Nehru family. B L Santhosh accused the Congress and left parties of trying to create a narrative against the government.

On the relationship between Nehru and Ambedkar, he alleged that Nehru had opposed Ambedkar's idea of giving voting rights to women and the Hindu Code Bill. The maximum number of people who were jailed during the 1975 National Emergency which can be termed as the country's second freedom struggle were from RSS and BJP, he said while countering chief minister Siddaramaih's statement that BJP and RSS leaders did not participate in the freedom struggle.

Coming down heavily on former prime minister Indira Gandhi for including 'Socialism' and 'Secularism' in the Preamble of the Constitution, Santosh said today socialism is restricted to only election speeches and for freebies. He termed her as Dictator-in-chief of the country and the one who destroyed the democratic norms.

He criticised Congress lawmakers for holding copies of the Constitution in parliament and state legislatures, remarking that they may have purchased it for Rs 170 but haven't read it.

Author Vikas Kumar P said that a review is necessary to determine whether the constitution, after 106 amendments, aligns with Ambedkar's vision. He also said that the BJP has made amendments in support of Ambedkar's vision.