Highlights of Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge’s Speech. Congress President addressed the ‘Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan’ at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, on November 26, 2024.

Today, in this Constituent Assembly that you have organized, the opposition leader and our favourite Rahul Gandhi, sitting on this stage… so many people are sitting on the stage and they are contributing to this programme of the ‘Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan’.

Friends, this Constitution was not made just like that... I will tell you a few things about the Constitution, it will take some time. That is why first we have to know how much effort the Congress Party made to prepare the Constitution... gave its time and how Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar contributed to curate it. It is important to understand this because many people think that the Constitution was made very easily. The Constitution was not made easily... the people who were in the Constituent Assembly discussed it day and night, after discussing it every clause by clause... Babasaheb Ambedkar kept answering every clause, only then this Constitution became good. But after it became so good, some people praise the Constitution... they praise the Constitution only at the surface level, bow before it and show so much devotion from the outside, but they are destroying the Constitution from the inside.

The 18th Lok Sabha election was conducted under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi to save the Constitution and the biggest success we got was to save this Constitution... one was his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and secondly to save democracy, all SC-ST, backwards, minorities, intellectuals... all of them came forward, that is why we were able to stop Modi ji. Otherwise, Modi ji would have become a dictator. Today he does not have a majority, he has a minority government. He has tied one leg to Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, and the other leg to our Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Modi ji is walking with both these legs. If someone pulls out one of the legs, he falls, the government falls. And I congratulate all of you that you people fought together, that is why Modi’s government was not formed by standing on its own feet. This is a great contribution of the people of this country. They used to say that they would cross 300, cross 400... forget 400, you have got a total of 240... if our people had pushed a little more, they would have got less than 200 seats and would not have been able to form the government.

But these people scare us, those who benefited from the Constitution, those who got everything from the Constitution, they tell us that we have made everything and instead of working for the country from morning to evening, this Gandhi family... since 1989, no one from the Gandhi family became the Chief Minister. Did someone become the Prime Minister from Gandhi family? Did someone become a minister... nothing, still they abuse them. This is the weakness of BJP, this is the weakness of Modi... they are so scared of taking Gandhi’s name, because Rahul Gandhi ji is the one who has the courage to speak. That is why today another fear has arisen in them, that is - caste census. If caste census is done, then everyone will demand their share, then Modi ji will get upset and go back to Ahmedabad.

So, brothers, the Constitution was made so strong that no one can tamper with it at present and if someone tries to touch it, then definitely he will not hold any post and will be separated from the people. The Constituent Assembly made this Constitution with such strength, which has the values of freedom, equality, justice, human dignity, democracy. They were fighting in the freedom struggle. Those who are weakening the Constitution today, their ancestors were informers of the British police... they did not fight for freedom, they were just looking for government jobs. Some were looking for a clerk’s job, some were looking for a police job, some people wanted to help the British by joining the army. So, their job was only to help the British and the people of Congress came out on the path fighting for the freedom of the country, this is our contribution. We fought for freedom and achieved independence and who are the people who shot the man who fought for freedom? Who are the people who shot Mahatma Gandhi in the chest? (The public gathering said - Godse) And these people say - we bow to the Constitution and we have talked about freedom, unity... what kind of language do they speak! If you really want unity in the country, then you should work together, work with love, leave hatred... as Rahul ji had said that open a shop of love in the market of hatred, do that. But Modi ji always talks about spreading hatred and tells others that Congress people spread hatred, Congress people do not want unity. We made the Constitution to unite the country, we made this Constitution to give equal rights to everyone. Once upon a time, these people did not want to give voting rights to women and if you read ‘Manusmriti’, then in it, Shudras and women had no rights and they used to say - they are entitled to punishment... they used to say this, they did not give it to them. But the Constitution gave rights to women, gave rights to people above 18 years of age and by giving the right of adult franchise to everyone, the governance system of this country that has been formed today is based on these elements, it has been formed by taking everyone along.

They (BJP) have only two slogans –‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’... Destruction of the rest. Because we are giving voting rights to women and if you talk about three-four thousand years, there is nothing in that. Neither Shudras had it, nor backward classes, nor women had it... then what kind of equality was this of yours? And when I hear many things in the Parliament and also when I hear outside... they talk about equality - the country has to be kept united... do we want to divide it? Indira Gandhi ji laid her life to keep the country united, did she give it or not - (the public said - she did) our Rajiv Gandhi ji, he sacrificed his life, he gave his life, for what - to keep the country united and who among you gave it? Those in your BJP and your people of RSS, they have no contribution for the country and there is a small person in their house... if I say it will be a big thing... no one has even laid their life for the country.

Here, lakhs of people came on the streets and got shot, left their homes, left their wives and children and came to fight for freedom and you are sitting on the chair... that is our contribution, ours and our Constitution’s and you are asking us - what did Congress do? Earlier they used to say what did they do in 70 years, then left it. Now they talk about what did they do in 55 years. We did a lot... you came, looted and are eating, giving it to people like Adani-Ambani and these people never thought about the country, only Modi thought for them. Modi thought for them, they thought for Modi. I am saying this because Adani had a very big hand in the Maharashtra elections, because he accumulated so much wealth... instead of calling it accumulation, I will say this - Modi ji has given them so much wealth, that they are not able to digest it. They are distributing it in the elections on behalf of BJP.

That is why brothers, they do not value the Constitution. They do not have institutional integrity, they do not have federal character and whatever Babasaheb did in the Constitution and whatever the members of the constituent assembly did, they are breaking it one by one. I will tell you one thing, everyone agrees. There may be some ideological differences in saying this, yet at that time Dr. Radhakrishnan had said one thing, what did he say, I will read it and tell you- the Constitution will have to respect the rights of all the communities living in this great country, whether Hindu or Muslim, king or farmer, our lineage proves that our nationality is one, our way of life is one, we have the same culture which is found in both Hindus and Muslims. Just like the water of the Ganges and the snow of Himalayas are mixed in this country.

When Emperor Ashoka saw his kingdom divided into different religions and castes, he said- ‘Samvaay Yo Sadhu’. Meaning unity is the best thing, Emperor Ashoka said this... From Patna to many of our countries, Afghanistan, everywhere and these people - if we are united, we are safe and someone else says –‘batenge toh katenge’. For whom brother, who is dividing the country?

We are ready for the country and here it is you people who break the unity and divide it, not us. You go everywhere, give such provocative speeches, misguide people and talk about votes in the name of religion, but we only talk about the Constitution. If the Constitution is saved, democracy is saved, then everyone is saved, not just because you say so and Babasaheb Ambedkar had said one thing, I am quoting two of his quotations. He said- “If political parties keep their religion above the country, then our freedom will once again be in danger and possibly it will end forever. We all should strongly oppose this.” Babasaheb, who is called untouchable, Dalit, said this about the country. If you people accept this, then do not teach us a lesson, you yourself should practise it. So, these people do not walk the talk and now they are putting up Babasaheb’s picture. They put it up whenever there is a need, they do not always do it.

So, I thank you for the awareness campaign you are running, because at least it is reaching to everyone and especially the campaigns that RSS and BJP are organizing in their offices today and suddenly they have remembered to bow down to Babasaheb, so it means that because of the campaign for Babasaheb that you people have been running, the Constitution campaign you are running, they are bowing their heads and saluting the Constitution. Otherwise, the Constitution, Babasaheb were nothing to them. They used to look only at Golwalkar Guruji and RSS. But today you made them bow down, you taught them to bow down to the Constitution, so I thank you, this is happening because of this movement. One thing they talk about the Constitution here and there, but at the time when the Constitution was made and adopted, what did the RSS say- the Constitution is according to western civilization, it should be based on ‘Manusmriti’. Should I read it once again? RSS had said- the Constitution is according to western civilization, it should be based on ‘Manusmriti’, these people used to say this at that time.

I was surprised today, I do not criticize any language, we respect every language, but today I and Rahul Gandhi were given the Constitution in Sanskrit, the Constitution was made in Sanskrit. Brother, your ‘Manusmriti’ says that if untouchables, poor people, Dalits read Sanskrit or pronounce it, then their tongues need to be chopped. Is this true or not? If they hear Sanskrit, put heated lead in their ears - this is written in it, they are bringing it and telling us!

Put the Constitution, which Baba Saheb Ambedkar has made simple and understandable to all, in front of the public. I don’t know how many of those people sitting on the dias knew Sanskrit. So, you bring such things... RSS’ paper ‘Organizer’, wrote in its editorial on 30 November 1949, what was written after the Constitution came... It wrote - The worst thing about the new Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian in it. If there is nothing Indian in it, then Modi ji, you, what your people said, then why are you celebrating Constitution Day? The worst thing about this new Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian in it, there is no mention of the wonderful constitutional development of ancient India in it and till date, the laws of Manu recorded in ‘Manusmriti’ are praised by the world, because keep them outside the temple, keep them outside the house, keep them away from drinking water, deprive them of education, this was it. So, it is said, RSS people write in their ‘Organizer’ paper – Laws are the reason for the admiration of the world and they themselves create obedience and conformity, for our constitutional expert all this is meaningless.

So those who insult the Constitution and praise ‘Manusmriti’, should we believe these people? These people are hypocrites and our Prime Minister gives big speeches, but why doesn’t he deny that this is not good and RSS should say - our people made mistakes, I do not take part in this, I am just a devotee of Babasaheb Ambedkar, I work keeping him in my faith. I have to tell you this because nowadays many tribals, Dalits, backward people are following them. Hey brother, they might get some small concession, but by selling your self-respect you go after them only for small concessions and their intention is what I told you.

So that’s why friends, whatever is there in our Constitution... protecting the Constitution is our religion and in that there is Democratic Republic, then Fundamental Rights, Independent Judiciary, all these things, Freedom of Religion. Now here in their era, it has been 11 years since their government came to power, there is no Freedom of Speech, no Freedom of Religion, they only talk of dividing and don’t even ask about the untouchables. Somewhere in Madhya Pradesh, they urinate on the face of tribals, rape many women, if a wedding procession goes out on a horse, they pull it down and kill it and these are the protectors of the Constitution! These are the destroyers of the Constitution. They want to destroy it. So, that is their thinking, they work according to their thinking and they do not work under the Constitution, that is why we should push back these big talkers and in the future we all should move forward unitedly. Now it is such that I do not talk about elections, but I will say one thing, I will definitely say that and our opposition leader Rahul Gandhi will also agree to this. Whatever our efforts are being made to cast votes for SC-ST, OBC, poor people, people of small communities, those votes are going waste. No, leave that EVM, we don’t have anything to do with EVM. We just want votes on ballot paper. Let that machine be kept in their house or in Modi sahab’s house or in Shah’s house. If in some godown... there are many godowns in Ahmedabad, let it be taken there and kept, just conduct elections on paper and you will know what your condition is at that time. Where are you standing at that time, you will know? So, this campaign should be started by our Party, it should be told to all the people, we will tell all the parties also and just like ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was taken out under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi ji, we want this ballot paper in the same way.

Now I end by telling you the last two-three things. I am having to say these one-two-three things for a reason. It is important to think about how many people, who were the makers of the Constitution, presented their views in the Constituent Assembly and because of them we have got the rights today. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had said this-”I came into the Constituent Assembly with no greater aspiration than to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes. I had not the remotest idea that I would be called upon to undertake more responsible functions. I was therefore greatly surprised when the Assembly elected me to the Drafting Committee.”These are the words of Baba Saheb.

Who elected him? The Constituent Assembly elected him, in which the Congress had a majority and because of the Congress...”I was more than surprised when the Drafting Committee elected me to be its Chairman. There were in the Drafting Committee men bigger, better and more competent than myself such as my friend Sir Alladi Krishnaswami Ayyar. I am grateful to the Constituent Assembly and the Drafting Committee for reposing in me so much trust and confidence and to have chosen me as their instrument and given me this opportunity of serving the country”. Babasaheb Ambedkar said this, he wanted to go there as a member, but seeing his views, Congress made him the Chairman of the drafting committee. This should be said, otherwise Babasaheb Ambedkar alone would not have become the Chairman. We consider him a God, he could not have become that God, because Congress helped in everything and today our Constitution was made and because of the Constitution we all are sitting here and there.

Now it may be possible as Rahul ji said that we are not on big posts. Now when do we get big posts- if a government like Smt. Indira Gandhi comes, like the government of our Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, if that comes again under your leadership, then all this will be done. Then something will be done, otherwise it is not going to happen by our saying, this has to be brought and we will definitely bring it in and I am especially mentioning these things because let you people know, Baba Saheb kept many things in the Constituent Assembly and he said this openly,” The task of the Drafting Committee would have been a very difficult one if this Constituent Assembly has been merely a motely crowd, a tessellated pavement without cement, a black stone here and a white stone there in which each member or each group was a law unto itself. There would have been nothing but chaos.” I am telling you how Babasaheb acknowledged Congress, the help Congress gave and what he said in making this Constitution-”This possibility of chaos was reduced to nil by the existence of the Congress Party inside the Assembly which brought into its proceedings a sense of order and discipline. It is because of the discipline of the Congress Party that the Drafting Committee was able to pilot the Constitution in the Assembly with the sure knowledge as to the fate of each article and each amendment. The Congress Party is, therefore, entitled to all the credit for the smooth sailing of the Draft Constitution in the Assembly”.

That is why I am telling you that a few people... Congress insulted Babasaheb, did not support him. If Congress had not supported him, would Babasaheb have said this! He has said it with his own mouth and said this in the speech of the Constituent Assembly, but our people do not counter it, what should I say. They do not counter it because... they do not counter it out of fear. You do not even talk about what the person who gave his entire life for your rights said and today people are misleading everyone about the Congress Party which said and did so much.

Brothers, I do not want to take much of your time, because even after Babasaheb Ambedkar resigned, if anyone brought him to the Parliament, it was the Congress. Dr. Jai Kumar was a Rajya Sabha member from Mumbai, Nehru ji told him - Brother, we have to bring Dr. Ambedkar to the Parliament, you resign and we will bring Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in your place, and he did it... and I will say one last thing.

I want to tell you one thing in the end, Babasaheb himself had said this - on 26 January, 1950 we will enter a life full of contradictions, if we deny it for a long time, we will endanger our political democracy, we have to remove these opposing elements as soon as possible. Which opposing elements - these anti- elements of Modi, anti-elements of RSS, anti-elements of BJP, if we have to remove them then whatever is in the Constitution, we should bring it into practice as soon as possible, only then the inequality in this country can be eliminated and if we do not do it then people will destroy this political democracy... which this assembly has built with so much hard work.

So, I would like to tell you that these people call us a minority, this-that! Brother, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee himself was a minister in the Muslim League government, three of his people were also in the Muslim League government formed in Bengal and these people now tell us to divide on the basis of caste. This will never happen and here no one will be cut off in the name of religion, no one will be divided, we will remain united, we will fight unitedly to protect this country. So, I would say that the Constitution is good, the Constitution should be kept safe and Baba Saheb himself had said this earlier and along with that our Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had clarified one thing, he said - there is a huge disparity between different groups, classes and individuals in India. There is a huge difference between people of the upper class and people of the lower class. If we have to establish democracy, then this difference will not only have to be bridged, but it will have to be reduced a lot, so that democracy survives.

These are all the things, there are many things, but I do not want to speak about all of them right now, because I took your time for so long, I am sorry and I also troubled Rahul ji a bit by speaking for so long, but I will only say this much that all of you should work together. I will give you two slogans. You should say these. I will say ‘Awaaz Do’, you say –‘Hum Ek Hain’. ‘Awaaz Do’- (the public said –‘hum ek hain’), ‘Awaaz Do’- (the public repeated - ‘hum ek hain’), ‘Awaaz Do’- (the public repeated yet again –‘hum ek hain’)

Jai Hind! Jai Samvidhaan! Thank you all.