Former Minister Kimmane Ratnakar questions BJP leaders' allegiance to Indian Constitution
'If BJP leaders accept the Constitution they have to reject the 'Bunch of Thoughts' written by Golwalkar of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. A person cannot accept both,' said Mr. Rathnakar in a press conference in Shivamogga on Thursday.
'The RSS is celebrating its 100th year. The BJP leaders, influenced by Golwalkar's ideas, have been trying to implement what the organisation stands for. However, the thoughts propagated by the leader are against the basic principles of the Indian Constitution,' he said.
Holding a copy of Golwalkar's book, Mr. Ratnakar went through the excerpts from the book and questioned if the BJP leaders did support those ideas. Making a reference to the mention of Purusha Sukta in the book, he wanted to know if the BJP leaders would accept the depiction of the origin of four varnas – Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
Referring to Golwalkar's thoughts favouring a unitary State and opposing the federal system, the former Minister stated that the views expressed in the book were completely opposite to the principles of the Constitution. 'Leaders of the BJP should clarify where they stand on these issues,' he wanted to know.
Referring to Home Minister Amit Shah's recent comment that those who speak English in India would soon feel ashamed, Mr. Rathnakar stated that Shah's speech had its roots in Golwalkar's ideas. 'Shah did not make that statement all of a sudden. Golwalkar himself has advocated priority to Hindi over other languages,' he said.
Further, he demanded BJP's response to RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale's call to omit 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Displaying a copy of the BJP's constitution, the Congress leader stated that the party (BJP) announced to have faith and allegiance to principles of socialism and secularism. 'The words – 'socialism' and 'secularism' – were present in the party's constitution. They may have amended it now,' he commented.
District Congress Committee president R. Prasanna Kumar, party spokesperson Ramesh Hegde and others were present at the press conference.
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