On Sunday, during his visit to Mumbai, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar made indirect critiques of Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and former Congress Prime Ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, accusing them of being “anti-reservation.” Dhankhar was at the Elphinstone Technical High School and Junior College to inaugurate one of the ‘Constitution temples’ set up in 434 industrial training institutes across the state.
In his address at the inauguration of the Samvidhan Mandir, Dhankhar highlighted what he described as a prejudice that led to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar not receiving the Bharat Ratna and the delay in implementing the Mandal Commission recommendations for nearly a decade. He criticized a current constitutional officeholder for allegedly making anti-India remarks abroad and calling for an end to reservations.
Dhankhar’s remarks were in response to Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments during his visit to the US, where he suggested that the Congress party would consider scrapping reservations only when India becomes a fair place. Gandhi later clarified that he had been misquoted and reiterated his support for increasing reservations beyond 50 percent.
Dhankhar also took issue with Rahul Gandhi’s use of the Constitution as a campaign prop, arguing that some political leaders are merely showcasing it without genuinely respecting or understanding its essence. He emphasized that the Constitution should be respected and not used as a mere symbol.
Furthermore, Dhankhar questioned why the Bharat Ratna was not awarded to B.R. Ambedkar earlier and criticized the lack of action on the Mandal Commission report during the tenures of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. He also condemned the 1975 Emergency, alleging that Indira Gandhi undermined Dr. Ambedkar’s vision by subverting the Constitution. In response, the current government has designated June 25 as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day) to commemorate the impact of that period on constitutional processes.
Dhankhar urged the youth to resist attacks on democratic and constitutional values, quoting B.R. Ambedkar on the importance of placing the country above individual or party interests to safeguard independence.
The event, attended by Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, and Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, faced logistical issues due to leaks and rainwater inside the venue, causing inconvenience to attendees.
