India first is only religion, Constitution only holy book: PM

In his one-hour long speech, Modi said “India first” is the only religion of government and Constitution is its only scripture. And if these fail, then the issue of majority-minority would come in. The meeting assumes significance as the government and the Congress are at loggerheads over the passage of crucial legislations and Congress blocking the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

The Congress has for the past some months persistently attacked the Modi government over “rising intolerance”.

To spread the awareness of the constitution’s architect Ambedkar, at the inaugural ceremony of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai, Modi had announced the Indian constitution day, to be celebrated on November 26th.

The day is also being observed as the Constitution Day, commemorating the acceptance of draft statute on this day in 1949.

It was not easy to make a constitution like that of India, Modi said, appreciating the efforts of the makers of the constitution.

In his tributes to Ambedkar, the Home Minister said he was also the brain behind the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India, Finance Commission and several waterways projects across the country.

“The sanctity of the Constitution, it is our responsibility”.

The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. He himself had sat through the debate, yesterday and today. Twitter started buzzing with people tweeting about the prime minister’s extremely probable jet lag!

What can be the real respect to Ambedkar and constitution? . “I congratulate you”, the PM said.

The interest that was displayed in this debate was exemplary. How is it possible that we are discussing the objectives of the constitution and we don’t mention Nehru.

Putting all doubts to rest and silencing critics, Modi said that highlighting the importance of November 26 in way undermines the importance of January 26, our Republic day.

Parliament can amend the Constitution, which has already been done over 100 times, but it is altogether a different thing to review it, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said while participating in a debate on the “Commitment to the Constitution“.

I said the same thing in the House and I say it again. “Many greats made this country what it’s today”.

This country was not made by princes and kings, but by the people of India. He said that the Constitution provides dignity to the poor and has maintained the country’s unity.

It must have been hard to form a Constitution for a nation as diverse as India. That is the reason it (Constitution) needs to reach the roots. “Consensus is more important than majority rule…in a democracy, the real strength comes when we all walk on the path towards agreement”, he added. If someone has to criticise the government or defend oneself or want to be neutral, all that can be done by quoting Babasaheb Ambedkar. Every school of thought stands by what he said.

Singh’s argument that the word secular translates in Hindi not to “Dharam Nirpeksh” or non-religious but “Panth Nirpeksh” or non-sectarian, too has drawn counter-attacks from Congress and other opposition leaders. He consumed the entire “zehar” (poison) and left us with such “amrit” (elixir)…

“People give us power when we work together in consensus”.