Mallikarjun Kharge warns of 'upheaval if constitution is changed'

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stepped up attack on BJP over the ruling party MP Anantkumar Hegde's remarks that the Constitution needs to be altered and for that BJP wants 400-plus Lok Sabha seats. He dared the prime minister and the BJP leadership to demonstrate their commitment to the Constitution by taking action and denying election tickets to party leaders who make such comments against the Constitution, even as he warned that any such attempt will create upheaval in the country.

"I have to say with great sadness that the Constitution of the country has not been accepted entirely by BJP... On one side, PM Modi says that the Constitution will never change. On the other hand, he makes his people say that to change the Constitution, two-thirds majority will be required, and for that, you (people) give us two-thirds majority and we will change the Constitution," Kharge said at a presser on Monday at the Congress headquarters. "It is not said by any fringe element but by MPs, BJP leaders and RSS... If anyone in my party makes such remarks, I will remove him, if they (BJP) have courage they should do it.... If they believe in BR Ambedkar they should remove such people from their party and not give them tickets."

Questioning the commitment of RSS-BJP to constitutional principles, the Congress president sounded a warning against any attempt to change the Constitution. "They (BJP) are against social justice and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. This is not a good mindset, this will create upheaval in the country if you want to change the Constitution," he said. Kharge also recalled that RSS leaders, including its chief, have spoken against the concept of the constitutionally guaranteed reservation.