Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Thane: Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said it was the Congress which amended the Constitution during Emergency in 1975, but was now making baseless claims that the BJP planned to alter the statute book.
Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Thane city on Sunday night ahead of the November 20 state assembly polls, Gadkari asserted that no one can alter the salient features of the Constitution.
The Minister for Road Transport and Highways also reiterated the government's commitment to creating sustainable and efficient infrastructure solutions for the rapidly urbanising regions in the country.
Notably, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders have in their poll rallies claimed the BJP was working to finish off the Constitution.
Dismissing the Congress' allegations, Gadkari said, "No one can alter salient features of the Constitution. It was, in fact, the Congress which amended the Constitution during Emergency in 1975. These were later reversed by the Janata Party government." The minister urged voters to prioritise development over caste-based politics when electing their representative.
"Our focus should be on a progressive vision that ensures modern infrastructure and better living standards," he said.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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