People in power promoting divisive thinking: Congress Prez Kharge

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge targeted the Modi government on Independence Day by alleging that the ruling establishment was promoting divisive thinking and turning constitutional and institutional offices into "puppets", and said the Opposition was committed to protecting the Constitution.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitching for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Congress spokespeople said Modi terming the Hindu Code Bill as a "communal code" was like insulting Ambedkar's Constitution. They, however, skirted Ambedkar's advocacy for a UCC across communities and his pronouncements against the amendments brought in the Constituent Assembly to block application of the UCC in the Muslim community, thus limiting it as the Hindu Code.

In his address at AICC's Independence Day function, Kharge also questioned RSS and Sangh Parivar's contribution to the freedom movement. "Instead of walking the path shown by them (freedom fighters), the rulers of today are encouraging divisive thinking. They mark 'Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas' (Partition Horrors Remembrance Day) with the intention of spreading hatred. Those who did not participate in the Independence movement give advice to the Congress party and without any contribution want to get counted among the martyrs," he said.


He also accused the Modi government of overturning constitutional institutions and said the Opposition would protect the Constitution. "The Opposition is like oxygen for democracy. Along with stopping the unconstitutional attitude of the government, it also raises the issues of the public," he said.

Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi said in his message: "Happy Independence Day to the people of the country. For us, freedom is not just a word, it is our biggest protective shield, woven into constitutional and democratic values."

Terming PM's comments on Hindu Code as an example of his "capacity for malice, mischief, and maligning of history", Congress communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said: "To say that we have had a 'communal civil code' till now is a gross insult to Dr Ambedkar, who was the greatest champion of reforms in Hindu personal laws that became a reality by the mid-1950s. These reforms had been bitterly opposed by the RSS and the Jan Sangh."

The Opposition circles were curious about PM Modi pitching for a UCC despite his third government's dependency on several allies.