BK Hariprasad slams RSS leader over call to remove 'Secular', 'Socialist' from Preamble
Bengaluru: Senior Congress MLC BK Hariprasad has criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale for suggesting that the terms ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ be removed from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. In a sharp response, Hariprasad challenged the RSS to propose alternative words to replace these foundational terms.
Taking to social media platform X on Friday, Hariprasad said the RSS's repeated calls to alter the Preamble reflected a "condemnable stand" that goes against the spirit of India. He recalled that the RSS and the BJP had previously stated their intention to rewrite the Constitution to suit their ideological vision if they came to power. According to him, such remarks reveal an "anti-Constitutional mindset."
The Congress leader also accused the RSS of lacking the courage to clearly state their ideological position. “Let them say openly that they want to replace the Constitution with the Manu Smriti, which they truly revere,” Hariprasad wrote. He challenged Hosabale to admit if the RSS wished to introduce terms like ‘Capitalism’ and ‘Casteism’ into the Constitution.
Hariprasad further alleged that the Sangh Parivar has historically opposed the Constitution ever since Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as the Chairperson of the Constitution Drafting Committee. He stated that the Sangh’s lack of participation in the country’s freedom movement, and its alleged conspiracies against freedom fighters, disqualify them morally from commenting on the Constitution or the legacy of India’s independence.
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Bommai condemns Goa CM's statement on Mahadayi river project
Gadag (Karnataka), Jul 27 (PTI): BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavarj Bommai on Sunday condemned Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's statement on the Mahadayi river project, as he also questioned the Congress' moral right to speak on the issue.
He claimed that whatever progress has been made on the Mahadayi issue, it happened under the BJP government.
Addressing the Goa Assembly last week, Sawant claimed that the Centre would not approve the Mahadayi project.
He also said the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities aimed at diverting Mahadayi river water.
Bommai said, "There is no need to politicise the Mahadayi project issue. We are all united as this is an issue concerning the state. I condemn the statement made by the Chief Minister of Goa. There is no need to play such a big political game over one state's interests. He must act in accordance with the law, and hence I condemn his remarks."
Speaking to reporters here, he questioned the moral standing of Congress leaders in Karnataka on the Mahadayi issue.
"Congress leader Sonia Gandhi herself during the Goa polls said that not a single drop of Mahadayi water would be given to Karnataka. What moral right does Congress have to speak on this issue?" he asked.
Dubbing the Goa CM's statement an "insult to the people of Karnataka", CM Siddaramaiah had earlier hit out at the BJP stating "Why has the Centre not officially communicated its concerns? Is this how federalism works under the BJP? Are we being punished for not surrendering to the BJP?"
Bommai accused the Congress party of building a barrier to prevent Mahadayi water from flowing into the Malaprabha river, thereby obstructing the interlinking canal work initiated during the BJP regime and this was the only "contribution" Congress made to the Mahadayi project.
"Whatever progress has been made on the Mahadayi issue, it happened under the BJP government. The Congress, which constituted the tribunal, did not even provide it an office for four years. It was the BJP government that gave it an office. Though the tribunal gave a verdict, it was not notified. The NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued the notification," he said.
It was the central NDA government that prepared the DPR for the Mahadayi project and got it approved. "It was also the BJP government that secured environmental clearance. The only thing the Congress did was to block the interlinking canal works started during the BJP tenure by constructing a barrier to prevent Mahadayi water from reaching the Malaprabha river," he said.
Goa has been opposing Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri project in the Mahadayi river basin.
The Kalasa-Banduri project by the Karnataka government proposes diverting Mahadayi river water into the Malaprabha river to enhance the drinking water supply in parts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkote, and Gadag districts.
The Mahadayi river flows through Karnataka and Goa before joining the Arabian Sea. Known as the Mandovi in Goa, it is one of the state's two major rivers.
The diversion of Mahadayi water has long been a point of contention between Karnataka and Goa, with the latter claiming "it would severely impact the state's flora and fauna."
Speaking about the urea shortage in the state, Bommai said the government could have averted the crisis.
"Rainfall began early this year, and fertilizer should have been supplied where needed. Buffer stock should have been maintained, the management has not been proper," he said.
Noting that the state government has now submitted to the Centre for additional urea fertilizer supply, he said, "We (BJP) too will speak with the Union Minister for Agriculture and Fertilizers to get more supply. But more importantly, the fertilizer that is already arriving must be distributed properly by the Agriculture Department and the concerned ministers."
