Chandigarh - Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Pawan Bansal refuted allegations by the BJP that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi disrespects the Indian Constitution. Bansal countered that the BJP, during its previous term, had expressed intentions to amend the Constitution if they secured over 400 seats in the next election.

The BJP has consistently accused the Congress of disrespecting the Constitution, despite Gandhi frequently carrying a copy of it. Bansal emphasized the significance of the Constitution's origins, stating, "When the Constitution was framed, the Constituent Assembly held lengthy discussions on every aspect, considering the sentiments of the Indian people, our heritage, and our future." He highlighted the Preamble, drafted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as embodying the core values of secularism, inclusivity, individual rights, and freedom.

Bansal expressed concern over the BJP's alleged desire to reinterpret the Constitution to align with Hindutva, stating that "Hindutva is not Hinduism" and that using religion for political purposes is detrimental to India's progress. He stressed that a "Hindu Rashtra" ideology is incompatible with the secular nature of the Constitution and would hinder India's progress.

He drew a comparison to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's constitutional amendments, which enshrined terms like 'secular' and 'democratic,' emphasizing that amending the Constitution to reflect its original vision is different from fundamentally altering its core principles.

Bansal also expressed concern over the current state of democratic institutions in India, citing instances of a High Court judge attending a Vishva Hindu Parishad conference and the Vice President's silence on such matters. He believes these actions pose a threat to the Constitution and its values.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's recent verdict on the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, Bansal stated that while he respects the decision, he believes the law aimed to maintain the status quo of religious sites as of August 15, 1947, with the exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi case. He urged against politicizing religious issues and emphasized the importance of respecting all religious sites for national unity.

Bansal further emphasized that divisive politics weakens the country and that focusing on strengthening the nation by respecting all religions and maintaining the values of the Constitution is crucial.