Statute review — Cong to oppose move tooth ‘n’ nail, says CM

PUNE, APRIL 10: Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has warned that if need be, the Congress would ``take to the streets'' to oppose any revi...

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PUNE, APRIL 10: Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has warned that if need be, the Congress would “take to the streets” to oppose any review of the Constitution.

At a time when the country is celebrating the golden jubilee of the adoption of the Constitution, the Centre’s move to appoint a Constitution Review Commission smacks of ulterior motives and has created suspicion in the minds of the people, Deshmukh said after inaugurating the Dr Babasaheb Cultural Centre built by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), on Sunday.

Deshmukh said that the Congress would formally launch a public awareness campaign against the review of the Constitution which would gain momentum after Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s address at the “Ghatana Bachao (save Constitution)” rally to be held in Nagpur on april 14 — the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.

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While referring to the inherent provision of the Constitution which provides for its amendment from time to time, Deshmukh said that the Constitution had been amended 80 times now and such amendments had never been met with any suspicion or Opposition.

In spite of the provision, the Centre has now appointed a commission to review the entire Constitution which has created doubts as to whether the basic structure of the Constitution is sought to be changed, Deshmukh stated.

Deshmukh pointed out that the Constitution has worked well for the last 50 years and, so, the Centre’s decision to review it now, smacks of ulterior motives.

Dr Ambedkar, he said, had tremendous foresight and had framed the Constitution accordingly, to safeguard the interests of the downtrodden. Despite the safeguards, many sections of the society still continue to need the support of the government for their upliftment, he said.

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He stressed that the Democratic Front government in the State had a secular outlook and was committed to the progress of all sections of the society. The Democratic Front government, he assured, would strive to provide justice to all sections of the society.

The State Government would solidly stand behind the backward sections if anyone tries to snatch away their rights or attempts to create hurdles in the path of their progress, Deshmukh assured.