‘Ploy to break country’: Congress Goa candidate’s remarks on ‘Constitution’ invite PM ire | India News
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lashed out at Congress over its Goa candidate’s statement that the Constitution was enforced on the state, calling it a “ploy” to break the country.
Viriato Fernandes, the Congress candidate from South Goa, sparked controversy with his remarks that the Indian Constitution was “forced” upon Goa after its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961.
Addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, the Prime Minister accused Congress of insulting Dr. B R Ambedkar and the Constitution. He accused the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics since independence and being unable to accept the participation of Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes in power.
“Congress is not able to digest the participation of Dalits, Adivasis and backward classes in power. Now the party has started a big game. Earlier a Congress MP from Karnataka said south India should be declared a separate country, now a Congress candidate from Goa said the Indian Constitution is not applicable in Goa,” PM Modi said.
“He is saying the Constitution was forced on Goa. He has told this to ‘shehzade’ (apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi)…Isn’t this an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar? Isn’t this an insult to the Constitution? Is this not tampering with the Constitution of India?” the prime minister asked.
The BJP has also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Fernandes.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant also condemned Fernandes’ comments, calling them an insult to Goans, freedom fighters, and the Indian Constitution. He accused the Congress of harboring a pro-Portuguese mentality and promoting the ‘Bharat Todo Abhiyaan’ (breaking up the country).
Sawant questioned whether Fernandes’ conversation with Rahul Gandhi in 2019, during which he made the controversial remarks, helped him secure an election ticket in 2024.
In the complaint, the BJP alleged that the Congress candidate engaged in hate speech against the Constitution and demanded the revocation of his candidacy.
Under scrutiny, Fernandes urged against misinterpreting his words for political gain and called for a discussion on his statements.
“Dear @goacm, don’t try to twist and turn selective words from my speech to get political mileage & spread venom. I am ready for an open debate on what I spoke as well as issues of destruction of identity of Goa, rise in unemployment, inflation, crimes & corruption under @BJP4India,” he said in a post on X.
Viriato Fernandes, the Congress candidate from South Goa, sparked controversy with his remarks that the Indian Constitution was “forced” upon Goa after its liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961.
Addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district, the Prime Minister accused Congress of insulting Dr. B R Ambedkar and the Constitution. He accused the Congress of indulging in appeasement politics since independence and being unable to accept the participation of Dalits, Adivasis, and backward classes in power.
“Congress is not able to digest the participation of Dalits, Adivasis and backward classes in power. Now the party has started a big game. Earlier a Congress MP from Karnataka said south India should be declared a separate country, now a Congress candidate from Goa said the Indian Constitution is not applicable in Goa,” PM Modi said.
“He is saying the Constitution was forced on Goa. He has told this to ‘shehzade’ (apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi)…Isn’t this an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar? Isn’t this an insult to the Constitution? Is this not tampering with the Constitution of India?” the prime minister asked.
The BJP has also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Fernandes.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant also condemned Fernandes’ comments, calling them an insult to Goans, freedom fighters, and the Indian Constitution. He accused the Congress of harboring a pro-Portuguese mentality and promoting the ‘Bharat Todo Abhiyaan’ (breaking up the country).
Sawant questioned whether Fernandes’ conversation with Rahul Gandhi in 2019, during which he made the controversial remarks, helped him secure an election ticket in 2024.
In the complaint, the BJP alleged that the Congress candidate engaged in hate speech against the Constitution and demanded the revocation of his candidacy.
Under scrutiny, Fernandes urged against misinterpreting his words for political gain and called for a discussion on his statements.
“Dear @goacm, don’t try to twist and turn selective words from my speech to get political mileage & spread venom. I am ready for an open debate on what I spoke as well as issues of destruction of identity of Goa, rise in unemployment, inflation, crimes & corruption under @BJP4India,” he said in a post on X.
