Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday rejected the Opposition’s allegations of “vote chori”, accusing the Congress of committing “Samvidhan chori”, or theft of the Constitution, during the Emergency, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Fadnavis alleged that the Congress had tried to undermine democratic institutions and claimed that international forces and social media algorithms were being used to spread misinformation and destabilise the country.
Speaking at the BJP’s “Save Democracy” march in Thane, organised against what he described as attempts to create anarchy, Fadnavis said, “Those who shout ‘vote chori’ have themselves committed ‘Samvidhan chori’. They are the real Constitution thieves.”
Referring to the 1975 Allahabad High Court verdict that set aside then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s election, Fadnavis said the Supreme Court subsequently granted her only conditional relief. He alleged that the Congress government then introduced constitutional amendments with retrospective effect to prevent the judiciary from examining her election, PTI reported.
“The Congress, under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, was the first to subvert the Constitution, the judiciary, and democracy in the country,” he claimed.
Referring to the 42nd Constitutional Amendment introduced during the Emergency, Fadnavis alleged that the Congress government systematically weakened safeguards protecting fundamental rights. He said these protections were restored through further amendments after the Janata Party came to power in 1977, ensuring that the Prime Minister remained subject to the Constitution.
Quoting Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Fadnavis said fundamental rights were the most important feature of the Constitution as they guaranteed equality, social harmony and justice to the last person.
He also alleged that the Opposition was particularly concerned about the removal of the names of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from electoral rolls. “We will continue our struggle until the last Bangladeshi infiltrator is removed from the electoral rolls. Indian citizens have the right to vote, but illegal infiltrators cannot be allowed to exercise that right,” he said.
Fadnavis said the BJP’s “Save Democracy” march was only the beginning of a larger struggle. Invoking the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said Maharashtra had a tradition of sacrifice for national ideals and that the BJP and its supporters were prepared for a sustained struggle against forces attempting to create chaos.
“We will not stop until we build a developed India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said. Fadnavis reiterated that the BJP would continue its campaign against what it described as threats to democratic institutions and electoral integrity.
– Ends
