Congress fighting to protect the Constitution: CM Revanth Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it was attempting to undermine and ultimately dismantle the Constitution of India. He said safeguarding the Constitution was a historic responsibility that rested with every citizen of the country.

Addressing a massive Congress protest titled “Vote Chor – Gaddi Chhod” (Steal Votes, Vacate Power) at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, Revanth Reddy said the BJP’s policies posed a serious threat to democratic values. The protest was organised by the Congress against what it described as systematic assaults on democracy and electoral integrity by the ruling party at the Centre.

The demonstration was attended by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with several party leaders from across the country. From Telangana, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka also participated in the protest, expressing solidarity with the party’s stand.

Speaking on the occasion, Revanth Reddy recalled that the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, had ensured universal adult franchise to protect democracy and empower every citizen. He stressed that governments must be elected by the people and function in the interests of the people, and that the right to vote was the very foundation of democracy.

The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP-led Union government was acting in violation of these democratic principles. He accused the Centre of compromising the independence of the Election Commission and facilitating large-scale “vote theft” by manipulating electoral processes. Arbitrary deletion of voters’ names and attempts to influence elections, he said, were unacceptable in a democracy.

Revanth Reddy further claimed that during the last general elections, the BJP had openly spoken of amending the Constitution if it secured 400 seats in Parliament. However, he said, alert citizens curtailed the party to 240 seats, demonstrating the people’s commitment to protecting democracy.

He also expressed concern over what he described as attempts to delete the names of crores of voters belonging to Dalits, Adivasis and other marginalised sections across the country under the guise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), allegedly with the support of the Election Commission. Such actions, he said, amounted to an assault on the political rights of the poor and the oppressed.

The Congress, Revanth Reddy asserted, would continue its nationwide struggle against these “anti-democratic” moves and would stand firm in defending the Constitution, the right to vote and the freedoms of the people till the very end.