Destroying spirit of the Constitution is nature of Cong: PM Modi in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing its leaders of consistently undermining the Constitution.

Replying to a two-day discussion in the Lok Sabha on "The glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India", he claimed that destroying the spirit of the Constitution is in the veins of the Congress, while his government holds its sacredness and integrity paramount.

With the Opposition INDIA bloc running a campaign against his government for its alleged bid to weaken and change the Constitution, Modi put up a stout defence of his commitment to the country's founding document.

He said leaders like him and many others coming from ordinary families could never have reached where they did but for the strength of the Constitution, as he underlined his long adherence to its values. "Our Constitution is the basis of our unity," he said, emphasising that unity is the biggest requirement to achieve the goal of India becoming a developed country by 2047.

He wrapped up his over 110-minute speech proposing 11 resolutions aimed at shaping India's future, including upholding existing reservations for marginalised sections and ruling out any religion-based quota.

He said the Constituent Assembly had taken a considered decision against religion-based reservation, but the Congress has been pushing for it to appease its vote bank, an apparent reference to Muslims.

The 11 resolutions included a call for ending dynastic politics, promoting meritocracy over nepotism in governance and a pledge of zero tolerance to corruption.