"Destroyed every value of Constitution": Congress attacks BJP for "insult" to Ambedkar

New Delhi [India], February 11 : After Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Tuesday said that only the "authentic version" of the Constitution with its 22 illustrations should be promulgated, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of "destroying every value" in the Constitution, and insulting one of the Constitution makers and former law minister B R Ambedkar.
"In the last ten and a half years, the Modi government has destroyed every value of the Constitution. That is why during the Lok Sabha elections, the public taught them a lesson and kept them away from crossing 400. Earlier we saw how Home Minister Amit Shah insulted the architect of the Indian Constitution by making objectionable remarks on Baba Saheb in Parliament. He insulted the deprived people of this country," Kharge wrote in a post on X earlier today.
Talking about the illustrations, the Congress president claimed that the people who do print copies of the Constitution have focused on the "values" the document represents instead of focusing on the illustrations.
"The Constitution was made by "We, The People". For the convenience of the general public, those who have printed copies of the Constitution have given importance to its values instead of calligraphy and illustrations. This is what the creators of the Constitution, our great ancestors also wanted. This has been going on for decades," Kharge's post read.
The Congress chief also highlighted how the calligraphy work was done by Prem Bihari Narayan Raizada and the 22 illustrations were done by famous painter Nandlal Bose after Mahatma Gandhi requested that from him.
"The wonderful calligraphy work accompanying the illustrations was done by Prem Bihari Narayan Raizada, who in return for payment asked Nehru if he could sign his name to the manuscript, to which Nehru agreed. His nickname 'Prem' appears on all the pages of the manuscript," Kharge said.
Earlier today, BJP MP Radha Mohan Agrawal speaking during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha raised the issue of 22 illustrations missing in most copies of the Constitution sold in the country today. He demanded inclusion of the original illustrations, which he alleged have been removed "unconstitutionally".
Following this Dhankhar said, "I have no doubt that the Constitution signed by the founding fathers of the Constitution carrying 22 miniatures is the only authentic one and it can include amendments by the Parliament. If there is any change affected by the Judiciary or any institution, it is not acceptable to this House. I will appeal to the Leader of the House to ensure that in the country only the authentic version be promulgated. Any violation of this should be taken seriously by the government."
"Today, if an ordinary citizen of the country goes to the market to buy a copy of the Constitution, they do not find the original printed version that was signed by the framers of the Constitution on January 26, 1949. Some important sections of this Constitution have been removed in an unconstitutional manner for reasons unknown," he said.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge speaking in the Rajya Sabha alleged that an attempt was being made to defame BR Ambedkar by creating a controversy. "There is an attempt to defame Ambedkar," Kharge said.
The Leader of the House, JP Nadda countered Kharge and asked how there can be an issue with the point raised by Radha Mohan Agarwal and opposition members should welcome it.
"This issue is very important. The current copies of the Constitution being published do not contain those 22 illustrations. What is the opposition's problem with this? The 22 illustrations in the Constitution seem to trouble them. Their agenda is to erase the memory of India's culture, and they don't want future generations to remember it," Nadda said.