New Delhi: During a heated debate in Parliament on Saturday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP by referencing remarks attributed to Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who reportedly stated that "there is nothing Indian about our Constitution." Gandhi juxtaposed the Constitution of India against the Manusmriti, arguing that the government’s actions were more aligned with the latter.

Referring to his meeting with the family of a gang-rape victim in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, Gandhi highlighted the lack of justice, stating, “The accused roam freely while the victim's family lives in fear, unable to step outside due to threats. They were even denied the right to perform her last rites. Where in the Constitution is it written that rapists can go unpunished? This reflects Manusmriti, not the Constitution.”

In his 15-minute address, Gandhi sharply criticized Savarkar, claiming the ideologue regarded the Manusmriti as a sacred text that should replace the Constitution. He quoted Savarkar as saying, "Manusmriti is most worshipable after the Vedas and Upanishads, codifying the divine march of our nation for centuries."

Gandhi also condemned recent communal violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, triggered by a court-ordered survey of a mosque, which left four people dead. He stated, "The Constitution forbids discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Yet, hate and communal violence persist. In which Constitution is this justified?"

Addressing the absence of key government figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during his speech, Gandhi remarked on the ruling party’s selective defense of constitutional values. He emphasized India's diverse heritage, referencing leaders like Periyar, Basavanna, Phule, Ambedkar, and Gandhi, who championed equality and social justice.

Using the Mahabharata’s story of Ekalavya, Gandhi criticized policies he said were harming marginalized communities and the middle class. He equated Ekalavya's forced sacrifice of his thumb to contemporary policies, arguing, "When you hand over Dharavi to Adani, you cut the thumb of small entrepreneurs. Agniveer cuts the thumb of India’s youth. Lateral entry into government jobs undermines opportunities for backward classes, cutting their thumbs too."

He accused the government of systematically sidelining disadvantaged groups through actions like question paper leaks, land acquisitions affecting tribals, and violent crackdowns on protesting farmers. Gandhi promised that if given the opportunity, his party would implement caste-based census data and uphold 50% reservation to ensure equity.

Speaker Om Birla intervened, urging Gandhi to maintain the dignity of the House, to which Gandhi replied, “The word monopoly is not in the Constitution. That’s why I must speak on issues like Agniveer and paper leaks.”

Gandhi concluded by asserting that true political equality is impossible without addressing social and economic disparities. He accused the current administration of capturing institutions and perpetuating inequality, leaving many citizens with figurative "chopped thumbs."