Constitution Debate Live Updates: 'Garibi hatao' was biggest 'jumla' of Congress for generations, PM Modi in Lok Sabha

BJP MP Ravi Kishan praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, calling it "historic" and stating that it conveyed a clear message about the government's vision for India. "It was a historic speech. The opposition must learn how a speech should be delivered... PM Narendra Modi's decency is the talk of the day," the BJP MP said.

He emphasized the Prime Minister's focus on welfare schemes benefiting women, youth, tribal communities, and the poor, and added that the 11 promises made by Modi would guide India toward greater achievements.

"This speech sent out a message to women, youth, tribal communities, and the poor, who are the key recipients of the Prime Minister's welfare schemes. His 11 promises indicate that he is taking the country to even greater heights... India will become a developed nation much before 2047 and soon become the third largest economy in the world," he stated.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India, asserting that his administration was working with "full force" towards a "Secular Civil Code." Participating in the Lok Sabha discussion on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,' the Prime Minister mentioned that the topic of the UCC was also a matter of consideration for the Constituent Assembly.

"There was a long discussion there. After the debate, it was decided that it would be better if the government that gets elected takes a decision on this and implements UCC in the country... The Supreme Court has also said many times that UCC should be brought into the country... Keeping in mind the spirit of the Constitution and the makers of the Constitution, we are working with full force for a Secular Civil Code," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called out the previous Congress-led government for the 2012 nationwide power outage, contrasting it with his administration's "One Nation, One Grid" initiative. He made these remarks during a parliamentary debate commemorating 75 years of the Indian Constitution.

PM Modi said that his government ensured uninterrupted power across India, unlike the previous government, which, according to him, brought international criticism upon the country.

"During the previous government, we saw India being defamed before the world through headlines. We have seen those days. That is why, with the mantra of unity and upholding the sense of the Constitution, we fulfilled One Nation One Grid. That is why, today there is uninterrupted power supply in all corners of India," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described the slogan "Garibi Hatao" as the "biggest 'jumla'" in India's history during a Lok Sabha debate commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution.

PM Modi targeted the Congress party for frequently accusing the BJP government of using "jumlas." He countered by claiming that the Congress party’s own slogan, popularised by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was the most prominent example of a "jumla."

These resolutions are rooted in constitutional values, PM Modi said in a speech in Parliament that lasted for two hours.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's over 110-minute speech in the Lok Sabha, calling it "boring" and comparing it to sitting through a "double period of mathematics" in school. She also dismissed PM Modi's 11 resolutions as "hollow," questioning why the BJP avoids a discussion on the Adani issue if it truly practices zero tolerance toward corruption.

Responding to queries about the speech, Priyanka said, "The PM has not spoken one thing which is new. He has bored us. It took me to decades back. I felt like I am sitting in that double period of Mathematics."

"(JP) Nadda ji was also rubbing hands but as soon as Modi ji looked at him, he started acting as if he is listening attentively. Amit Shah also had his hand on head, (Piyush) Goyal ji was going off to sleep. It was a new experience for me. I had thought that the PM will say something new, something nice," she added.

PM Modi targeted the Congress-led UPA government over amendments to the Constitution and alleged that these were not aimed at the welfare of the people.

"Congress tasted the blood of amending Constitution, it started hunting Constitution from time to time. It tasted the blood. It kept bloodying the spirit of the Constitution. In almost six decades, the Constitution was amended 75 times. The poison that was sowed by the first PM of the country was nurtured by another Prime Minister - Indira Gandhi. Congress has constantly disrespected the Constitution, and reduced the importance of the Constitution. Congress is full of many examples of this," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Parliament, highlighted that 80% of Indians were deprived of clean water in the past. He questioned whether the Constitution had prevented any action from being taken on this issue.

PM Modi said that his government took decisive steps to provide clean water to the people. He also pointed out that many had never even visited a bank before, blaming Congress for this neglect. He added that 50 crore poor Indians now have access to bank accounts.

'Jumla' favourite word of Cong, biggest 'jumla' in country's history was 'garibi hatao' which was used by their four generations, PM Modi said in Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Parliament, criticized Congress for amending the Constitution for its own personal gains. He contrasted this with the amendments made by his government, which, according to Modi, were aimed at ensuring justice for OBCs, integrating Jammu and Kashmir, and promoting the unity of the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech, criticized Congress for its handling of reservation policies, saying, "Those obsessed with vote-bank politics played with reservation, ultimately disadvantaging SC, ST, and OBC communities. Congress initially opposed reservation when Dr Ambedkar proposed it and ignored the Mandal Commission report. It was only after the Congress government was removed that OBCs received reservation."

He also pointed out that during the drafting of the Constitution, the Constituent Assembly debated whether reservation should be based on religion, deciding that it would harm the country's unity. However, Modi claimed, that to appease its vote bank, Congress moved forward with such measures despite the decision.

Congress placed a non-Constitutional body, National Advisory Council, over and above the prime minister, said PM Modi. Sonia Gandhi presided over the council, PM added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking in Parliament, criticized former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for his handling of the Shah Bano case. Modi accused Rajiv Gandhi of sacrificing the spirit of the Constitution by siding with extremist elements to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that upheld Muslim women’s rights.

Seeds sown by first PM Nehru in changing Constitution was followed up by Indira Gandhi who even overturned the SC decision, said PM Modi in Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his criticism of Congress, stating, "During Nehru's time, the Prime Minister wrote to the Chief Ministers saying that if the Constitution becomes an obstacle, it should be altered. This is what Nehru suggested!"

Modi highlighted that the country did not remain silent, as both the President and speaker tried to warn Nehru, but he continued to follow his own interpretation of the Constitution. He criticized Congress for becoming accustomed to tampering with the Constitution, repeating this practice over time.

"The Constitution was amended 75 times in six decades. The seeds of this habit were sown by the first Prime Minister, and nurtured by another—Indira Gandhi. Disregarding the Supreme Court's 1971 decision, she altered the Constitution to diminish the power of the judiciary and concentrate authority in Parliament," Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of abusing the Constitution and violating its principles when she imposed the National Emergency. He said that the Emergency was imposed to prevent the judiciary from declaring her election "illegal."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted Congress in Lok Sabha, saying, "Congress is addicted to changing Constitution since first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's time".

In Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said, "Several times, there was power in one part of the country but it was not supplied. So, there was pitch dark in the other part. During the previosu government, we saw India being defamed before the world through headlines. We have seen those days. That is why, with the mantra of unity and upholding the sense of Constitution, we fulfilled One Nation One Grid. That is why, today there is uninterrupted power supply in all corners of India."

"India's democracy, its republican past has been very prosperous. This has been an insporation and that is why today, India is known as Mother of Democracy. We are not just a large democracy but also the Mother of Democracy," PM Modi said in Parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that while the Constitution is celebrating its 75th anniversary, looking back at key milestones reveals a dark chapter. "When the Constitution turned 25, the Emergency was imposed, constitutional rights were stripped away, and the country was turned into a massive jail," he said.

He further stated, "The stain of the Emergency can never be erased from the Congress party's history."

Reflecting on the Constitution's 50th anniversary, Modi noted that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, it was a moment of celebration. He added, "I was fortunate to become Gujarat's Chief Minister that year and decided to mark the Constitution's 60th anniversary in a significant way."

In Lok Sabha, PM Narendra Modi said, "Constitution makers were aware. They didn't believe that India was born in 1947, or that democracy in India started in 1950. They believed in the great tradition and culture here, they believed in the great heritage, in the thousands of years of the journey - they were aware."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Article 370 was revoked in Kashmir as it was an obstacle to India's unity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pride in India's early decision to grant women voting rights, saying, "It is a matter of pride that India gave women voting rights from the start."

During his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's progress in women’s participation, saying, "When the G20 summit took place, we introduced the concept of women-led development to the world. We must go even further."

He added, "Today, women are at the center of every major policy decision. It is also significant that the head of our country, President Murmu, is a tribal woman. The representation of women is increasing across all sectors, including in this Parliament."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India’s Constitution has defied skeptics and guided the nation to remarkable progress.

Expressing gratitude to millions of Indians, he said that the Constitution's framers did not view democracy as something born in 1950 but as a continuation of the country’s thousands of years of rich heritage.

He remarked, "The makers of the Constitution did not believe that India or its democracy was born in 1947. They were deeply aware of the nation's ancient cultural heritage. This is why, today, India is celebrated as the mother of democracy."

PM Modi, while speaking in Lok Sabha, said, 'India is mother of democracy'

PM Modi begins his speech. “It is a moment to celebrate. I am happy that the Parliament is also joining in on this celebration.”

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution's adoption, Prasad said the framers of the Constitution knew that the Indian heritage is secular in nature as mentioned in the "Rigveda".

Replying to Rahul Gandhi's 'Eklavya ka angootha' jibe, Anurag Thakur said, "Ye jo angootha kaatne ki baat karte hai inhone Sikhon ke gale kaatne ka kaam kia tha (It is during the Congress rule that the throats of Sikhs were cut). "They talk about Sikh rights? The maximum amount of Sikhs were beheaded in the Congress's era," the Hamirpur MP further said.

Calling the Constitution a "document of modern India," Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday emphasized that it could not have been created without drawing from the ideas and wisdom of ancient India.

Speaking during a discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, Gandhi highlighted that the Constitution embodies a collection of principles rooted in one of the nation's philosophies.

"In my last few speeches, I spoke about the concept of Abay Mudra. The concept of fearlessness, truth and nonviolence and I showed the House images of different religions displaying the Abay Mudra. People call it the longest written Constitution in the world but the Constitution contains a set of ideas from one philosophy of our nation. When we look at the Constitution and we open the Constitution we hear the voices and ideas of Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru. But where do these ideas come from? These ideas came from old profound, traditions in this country. Those ideas came from Shiva, Guru Nanak, Buddha, Kabir, and Mahaavir. When we speak of the Constitution and we show the Constitution of course it is the document of modern India. but it could never have been written without ancient India, and its ideas," Rahul Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized the Congress in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, accusing it of engaging in a "hypocritical drama" by pretending to be "champions" of the Constitution despite being its "attackers."

During a two-day debate in the Lower House on the "Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India," the Bangalore South MP alleged that parties like the Congress view India not as a civilizational state or a unified nation but merely as "a hotchpotch union of states."

"Read Article 26, it gives religious denomination, the right to establish and maintain institution for religious and charitable purposes. The Prime Minister says that Waqf has nothing to do with Constitution. Who is teaching the PM? Make him read Article 26. The goal is to snatch away Waqf properties...You want to snatch it away on the basis of your strength...,' Owaisi said.

"For the first time internal emergency was imposed in India without any cabinet approval. RSS was banned and its members were tortured during emergency," BJP MP said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur on Saturday targeted the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and said he lacks basic knowledge about the Indian Constitution.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticized the central government, alleging it is "cutting off" the thumb of the youth by "handing over" various sectors to industrialists.

During a discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, Gandhi referenced his earlier speech in which he invoked the Mahabharata, positioning the Opposition as defenders of constitutional ideals.

"In my first speech, I spoke about a battle, drawing from the Mahabharata and Kurukshetra. Today, a similar battle is unfolding in India. On this side (the Opposition), we represent the defenders of the Constitution's ideals. From each state, we have champions of this cause. If you ask about Tamil Nadu, we say Periyar. For Karnataka, it's Basavanna. For Maharashtra, we mention Phule ji and Ambedkar ji. For Gujarat, it's Mahatma Gandhi. You (the ruling party) praise these figures reluctantly, because you feel compelled to. But the truth is, you aspire to govern India as it was in the past," Gandhi remarked in Lok Sabha.

"...When you implemented Agniveer, you cut off the thumb of the youth. When you have paper leaks - you had 70 paper leaks, you cut off the thumb of the youth of India...Today, you lobbed tear gas shells on farmers outside Delhi, you unleashed lathi charge on the farmers. Farmers demand MSP from you. They demand a suitable price. But you facilitate profits to Adani, Ambani and cut off the thumb of farmers. We say Abhayamudra, we say "daro matt". You say, "Hum aapka angootha kaat denge." This is the difference," he said.

"This is Abhayamudra. Confidence, strength and fearlessness come through skill, through thumb. These people are against this. The manner in which Dronacharya cut off the thumb of Eklavya, you are busy cutting off the thumb of the entire nation...When you handover Dharavi to Adani, you cut off the thumb of entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses. When you handover India's ports, airports and defence industry to Adani, you cut off the thumbs of all fair play business of India who work honestly," he said.

"I described, in my first speech, the idea of a battle taking place, I described the Mahabharat, described Kurukshetra. There is a battle taking place today in India. On this side (Opposition side) are the defenders of the idea of the Constitution. From each state we have one, if you ask us Tamil Nadu - we will tell you Periyar, if you ask us Karnataka - we will say Basavaṇṇa, if you ask us Maharashtra - we will say Phule ji, Ambedkar ji, if you ask us Gujarat - we will say Mahatma Gandhi. You praise these people hesitatingly because you have to. But the truth is that you want India to be run the way it used to be run earlier," he said.

"In my last few speeches, I spoke about the concept of 'Abhaya Mudra', the concept of fearlessness, truth and non-violence, and I showed the House images of our different religions, displaying 'Abhaya Mudra'. People call the Constitution the longest written Constitution in the world, but the Constitution contains a set of ideas from one philosophy of our nation, one central philosophical set of ideas of our nation," he said.

During a discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, quoted Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's views on the Constitution.

"I want to start my speech by quoting what the Supreme Leader, not of the BJP but of the modern interpretation of the ideas of the RSS has to say about the Constitution of India and about how he thinks India should be run - 'The worst thing about the Constitution of India is that there is nothing Indian about it. Manusmriti is that scripture which is most worshippable after Vedas for our Hindu nation and from which our ancient times have become the basis for our culture, customs, thought and practice. This book, for centuries, has codified the spiritual and divine march of our nation. Today, Manusmiriti is law.' These are the words of Savarkar...Savarkar has clearly stated in his writings that there is nothing Indian about our Constitution. He has clearly stated that the book India is run by should be superseded by this book. This is what the fight is about," he said.

He said this as he quoted Savarkar saying that "there's nothing Indian about this Constitution."