'Insult to Constitution': Congress slams govt over Manusmriti reference in draft Shram Shakti policy
New Delhi (PTI): Stepping up its attack on the government over the draft Shram Shakti Niti, the Congress on Thursday claimed it draws inspiration from ancient texts like the Manusmriti and therefore is an "insult" to the Constitution as well as against the legacy of BR Ambedkar.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, cited the draft of the the Shram Shakti Niti 2025, and said it draws inspiration from the Manusmriti which has contributed to caste system and casteism in our country.
Speaking with PTI, Ramesh alleged the RSS was against the Constitution since it was adopted on November 26, 1949, on the grounds that it is not based on the values of the Manusmriti.
"Now the draft of the Modi government stated that the Shram Shakti Niti draws inspiration not from the Constitution of India but from ancient texts like the Manusmriti. This is an insult to our Constitution and must be condemned," he said.
Ramesh also questioned as to why the NDA's double engine in Bihar did not secure Constitutional protection to the quota law.
"The Constitution is being insulted and attacked on a daily basis and to say that our policy is being based on the Manusmriti is completely against the legacy of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar," Ramesh said.
The Congress on Wednesday had accused the Modi government of returning to the principles of Manusmriti by coming out with a new draft Shram Shakti policy released earlier this month which claims 'Manusmriti' embeds the moral basis of labour governance within the civilisational fabric.
Ramesh had shared the text of the new policy which says, "Ancient texts such as the Manusmriti, Yajnavalkyasmriti, Naradasmriti, Sukraniti, and Arthashastra articulated this ethos through the concept of rajadharma, emphasising the sovereign's duty to ensure justice, fair wages, and the protection of workers from exploitation.
"These early formulations embedded the moral basis of labour governance within India's civilisational fabric, centuries before the rise of modern labour law."
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Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
