BJP leaders calling for a change only reflect this desire. In its November 30, 1949 issue, the RSS mouthpiece, Organiser, left no ambiguity and stated: ‘The worst about the new Constitution of Bharat is that there is nothing Bharatiya about it.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other leaders of his party recently mounted an emotionally charged, still-running, counter-attack to nullify claims of several opposition leaders, including Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo, Lalu Yadav, that Modi has set the target of 370 seats (and 400 plus with allies) in the Lok Sabha with the intention to do away with the present Constitution and replace it with a new one.
Modi’s statements however ring hollow. It does so because several BJP candidates and leaders including, BJP Meerut candidate, actor Arun Govil of the serial Ramayan fame, its Nagaur nominee Jyoti Mirdha, its sitting Uttar Kannada MP Anantkumar Hegde, who has been snubbed this time, and sitting Faizabad (the constituency name is among the few that could not be changed to Ayodhya) MP and nominee Lallu Singh, suggested that the Constitution could be changed if needed. In fact, a raucous controversy was generated after a video, featuring Govil in which he discusses constitutional changes, went viral.
He was heard saying that “the Constitution has witnessed changes over a period of time” and that “change is a sign of development. It’s not a bad thing. Situations were different at that time; the current situation is different, so if changes are to be made…”
This was not the first instance over the past decade while Modi has been in office, and also not the only issue, when assurances of the top brass have been at variance to provocative dog whistles of those lower down in party hierarchy. Like always, Modi’s assertions are for masses outside the ideological flanks, while foot soldiers of the Sangh Parivar take the cue from lesser mortals.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.