Savarkar deemed Manusmriti above Constitution, does BJP stand by it?: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi attacked the ruling BJP by quoting RSS ideologue V D Savarkar during a debate on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India on Saturday.

Gandhi started his speech by quoting Savarkar and said that the Hindu leader considered Manusmriti to be the "most worshippable scripture."

"This is what the fight is about," the LoP said.

"I want to start my speech by quoting what the Supreme Leader, not of the BJP but of the modern interpretation of the ideas of the RSS has to say about the Constitution of India and about how he thinks India should be run," Gandhi told the House.

He then quoted Savarkar: "'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 Vedas for our Hindu nation and from which our ancient times have become the basis for our culture, customs, thought and practice. This book, for centuries, has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmiriti is law.' These are the words of Savarkar...Savarkar has clearly stated in his writings that there is nothing Indian about our Constitution."

Gandhi further said that Savarkar clearly stated that "the book India is run by should be superseded by Manusmriti."

The LoP then asked the ruling side if they stand by Savarkar's words.

"Do you support your leader's words? Because when you speak in Parliament about protecting the Constitution, you are ridiculing Savarkar, you are abusing Savarkar, you are defaming Savarkar," he added.

Earlier in the day, Union minister Kiren Rijiju tore into the Congress for not giving B R Ambedkar his due, as he questioned the Opposition's claims that minorities were being denied their rights.

Intervening in the debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, the parliamentary affairs minister cautioned that "our words and actions should not diminish the image of the country in the world fora".

Rijiju was the first speaker on the second day of the debate in the Lower House.

(With PTI inputs)