PM Modi's Parliament Speech on Constitution: A Critique of Congress Legacy

On December 14, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha during a special session commemorating the 75th anniversary of India's Constitution. Instead of focusing on current national issues, Modi's speech, which lasted over an hour, predominantly centered on a critical assessment of the Congress party's relationship with the Constitution over the decades. Here's a summary of the key points from his speech:

1. Historical Critique of Congress:

• Emergency of 1975: Modi accused Congress of undermining the Constitution during the Emergency, calling it a period when "democracy was murdered." He highlighted how constitutional rights were suspended, and the judiciary was bypassed, pointing to Indira Gandhi's regime.

• Amendments for Political Gains: The PM criticized Congress for amending the Constitution for political benefits, specifically referencing the amendment during Indira Gandhi's time which allowed her to bypass Supreme Court rulings on her election.

• Nehru's Role: Modi questioned Nehru's commitment to the Constitution, alleging that Nehru's decisions, like delaying OBC reservations and sidelining Sardar Patel, showed a lack of respect for constitutional principles.

2. Congress's Constitutional Misuse:

• Modi pointed out several instances where Congress allegedly used constitutional provisions to maintain power, including the imposition of President's Rule in states and manipulating judicial appointments.

• He cited the Shah Bano case as an example where Congress overturned a Supreme Court judgment for political appeasement, thus, according to Modi, disrespecting the constitutional framework.

3. BJP's Constitutional Contributions:

• In contrast, Modi defended his government's record, claiming it took steps to strengthen the Constitution. He mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir as a move towards national unity and constitutional uniformity.

• The establishment of the OBC Commission was highlighted as a step towards justice and inclusion, which previous Congress governments had not pursued with the same vigor.

4. Modi's 11 Resolutions for India:

• Although the speech was largely critical, Modi did touch upon his vision for India by proposing 11 resolutions. These included:

  • Upholding constitutional duties by both citizens and officials.

  • Development for all sections of society.

  • Zero tolerance towards corruption.

  • Promoting national pride in laws and traditions.

• However, these resolutions were not expanded into detailed policy proposals but presented more as guiding principles.

5. Reaction and Analysis:

• The speech was met with mixed reactions. BJP supporters lauded the historical critique, seeing it as a necessary reminder of past governance issues. Conversely, opposition members and some political analysts criticized the speech for its focus on past misdeeds rather than addressing pressing contemporary issues like unemployment, inflation, or agrarian distress.

• The lack of discussion on current national challenges was noted by several observers, who argued that the session, meant to celebrate the Constitution, should have been an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen it in today's context.    

• Modi's speech on this day was less about charting a future course for the nation based on constitutional values and more about revisiting historical political battles, leaving many to ponder the balance between historical critique and addressing the immediate needs of the nation.