New Delhi:

A police case has been registered against some social media users for sharing a clipped video of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

An X user, Vibhor Anand, who is a Delhi-based lawyer and has more than 40,000 followers, and five unidentified people are among those who have been named in the First Information Report (FIR) in Punjab’s Ludhiana. The case was registered on the complaint of AAP leaders and supporters.

As many as five FIRs have been registered in Ludhiana and around 12 in Punjab. They have alleged that the clipped videos have tarnished Mr Kejriwal’s image and have hurt the sentiment of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities.

Mr Anand had shared a 9-second video of Mr Kejriwal, in which he was heard saying, “Someone was saying that whoever has written the Constitution must be drunk while writing it”. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari had also shared the same clip.

However, in a 19-second video released by AAP leaders, Mr Kejriwal was heard talking about the Constitution of the Congress party and not about the Indian Constitution.

“Constitution of Congress party says no worker shall consume liquor. Someone amongst us said the one who wrote the Constitution must have been drunk while writing it,” Mr Kejriwal said during his speech, which was reportedly delivered 12 years ago.

The case was registered under sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause a riot), 336 (4) (forgery for the purpose of harming reputation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The controversy has erupted amid a massive row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar – known as the architect of the Indian Constitution –  during the recently concluded Winter Session of parliament.

In his address to the Rajya Sabha during the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution last week, Mr Shah said taking BR Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion” now.

“It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they took God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven,” the senior BJP leader said.

“Take his name 100 times more, but I want to say what are your sentiments about him,” he said.

The AAP, Congress and other Opposition parties have alleged that Mr Shah had insulted the Dalit icon and demanded his resignation and an apology.

Mr Shah, however, said the Opposition leaders had twisted his remarks.

New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Monday attacked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari for sharing a clipped video of his party colleague and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Mr Tiwari, in a post on X, shared a 9-second clip in which Mr Kejriwal was heard saying that “someone was saying that whoever has written the Constitution must be drunk while writing it”. His post came amid a massive row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar – known as the architect of the Indian Constitution.

“I found this video of the head of Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party. After listening to which everyone will be able to see his true colours,” Mr Tiwari, a three-time MP from North East Delhi, wrote.

मुझे दिल्ली के आम आदमी पार्टी के मुखिया का ये मुस्कान भरा वीडियो मिला.. जिसको सुनकर हर कोई ऐसे बहुरूपिये का असली रंग देख पायेगा.. #दलित_विरोधी_AAPpic.twitter.com/obMEJpp4RI

— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) December 23, 2024

Mr Sisodia, who has filed a defamation case against Mr Tiwari in the past, countered him and shared the full video of Mr Kejriwal’s speech.

In the 19-second video, which was reportedly shot 12 years ago, Mr Kejriwal was heard talking about the Constitution of the Congress party and not about the Indian Constitution.

“Constitution of Congress party says no worker shall consume liquor. Someone amongst us said the one who wrote the Constitution must have been drunk while writing it,” he said.

Mr Sisodia asked Mr Tiwari to stop behaving like “cheap trolls”.

“You are an MP, have some shame. You are tweeting lies. If not yourself, at least respect the post of an MP,” the former Delhi deputy chief minister said.

मनोज तिवारी जी सांसद हो, थोड़ी तो शर्म करो। झूँठ ट्वीट कर रहे हो । सस्ते trollers जैसा बर्ताव करना बंद करो। अपनी नहीं तो कम से कम सांसद पद की तो इज्जत करो। https://t.co/kEt6Za3aBjpic.twitter.com/vuDziaJTYM

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 23, 2024

Mr Tiwari responded to the AAP leader, saying there should be “decorum” in a debate. “You got so angry that you called me shameless”.

“If the members of Congress wrote the Constitution of the party after drinking alcohol, then how can Arvind Kejriwal interpret it to mean that “whoever wrote the Constitution, wrote it after drinking alcohol”. What is the meaning of “whoever wrote the Constitution”?,” Mr Tiwari added.

“How can Arvind Kejriwal dare to say this? Is there a difference between the Constitution of India and Congress’ Constitution or not,” he asked.

The war of words between the two leaders broke out days after a controversy erupted over Amit Shah’s remarks on BR Ambedkar during the recently concluded Winter Session of parliament.

In his address to the Rajya Sabha during the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution last week, Mr Shah said taking BR Ambedkar’s name had become a “fashion” now.

“It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they took God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven,” the senior BJP leader said.

“Take his name 100 times more, but I want to say what are your sentiments about him,” he said.

The AAP, Congress and other Opposition parties have alleged that Mr Shah had insulted the Dalit icon and demanded his resignation and an apology.

Mr Shah, however, said the Opposition leaders had twisted his remarks.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a huge attack on the Congress party during the parliament debate on the Constitution.

He said former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru misused the Constitution.

“Once they tasted blood, they wanted to do it again and again,” PM Modi said, alluding to the Emergency and the Shah Bano case.

“The current generation of the Gandhi family is taking forward the legacy of attacking the Constitution after tasting blood long back,” PM Modi said, drawing loud protest from Opposition MPs in the Lok Sabha.

“The Congress did not follow its own constitution, and made Nehru the leader when state units had supported Sardar Patel,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said former prime minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi also did not believe in the Constitution. “Even Indira Gandhi’s election was declared null and void. Then she invoked Emergency in rage to save her chair. She misused the Constitution,” he said.

“It was a time of injustice. Hundreds of people were thrown into jails. The insensitive government did not listen to people,” PM Modi said.

He said her son Rajiv Gandhi destroyed the Supreme Court victory of Shah Bano for the sake of vote bank.

“Instead of helping a woman who was fighting for justice, he supported bad people. Nehru ji started it, Indira ji took it forward, then Rajiv Gandhi also got a taste. The next generation will be the same,” PM Modi said.

He also attacked the National Advisory Council (NAC) of the then UPA government, which PM Modi said comprised unelected members advising the Prime Minister.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched an attack on the Congress for imposing Emergency when the party was about to lose politically. Replying to the debate on the Constitution in parliament, PM Modi said the Congress “will never be able to erase the taint of Emergency.”

“I expected a good debate on the Constitution, but some decided to grieve their losses,” PM Modi said in a swipe at the Opposition.

“We are completing 75 years of the Constitution. If we look back, when India’s Constitution completed 25 years, it was snatched using Emergency and India was turned into a prison and the rights of citizens were snatched. The Congress can’t wipe off this sin. Whenever a discussion on the Constitution takes place, we will always talk about the Emergency,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said former prime minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi did not believe in the Constitution.

“Even Indira Gandhi’s election was declared null and void. Then she invoked Emergency in rage to save her chair. She misused the Constitution,” he said.

“It was a time of injustice. Hundreds of people were thrown into jails. The insensitive government did not listen to people,” PM Modi said.

He said her son Rajiv Gandhi destroyed the Supreme Court victory of Shah Bano for the sake of vote bank.

“Instead of helping a woman who was fighting for justice, he supported bad people. Nehru ji started it, Indira ji took it forward, then Rajiv Gandhi also got a taste. The next generation will be the same,” PM Modi said.

He also attacked the National Advisory Council of the then UPA government, which PM Modi said comprised unelected members advising the Prime Minister.

New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today replied on the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha. Here are five top quotes from PM Modi’s speech.

Here are PM Modi’s top 10 quotes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today underlined that he has performed his duties within the framework of the Constitution, the founding document of the country, without encroaching upon anyone’s jurisdiction. 

The Prime Minister said that the document remains a “guiding light” for his government amid Opposition criticism that that efforts are underway to undermine the Constitution.

“I wish to say that I have confined my work within the framework of the Constitution, only done what was assigned to me by the Constitution. I have not indulged in any encroachment,” the Prime Minister said addressing an event marking Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court. 

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. The Constitution formally came into effect on January 26, 1950.

PM Modi also paid homage to the victims of the Mumbai terror attack and reiterated the country’s resolve that all terror groups challenging the security of India will be given a befitting reply.

“This sentiment of ‘nation first’ will keep alive the Constitution for centuries to come,” he said at the event which was attended by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Supreme Court Bar Association of India President Kapil Sibal, among others.

The Constitution, said PM Modi, has now been fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Constitution Day was celebrated there for the first time there.

“Our Constitution makers knew that India’s aspirations, India’s dreams will reach new heights with time. They knew that the needs of independent India and its citizens will change, challenges will change. That is why they did not leave our Constitution as just a mere book of laws. Rather, they made it a living, continuously flowing stream,” PM Modi said.

Jaipur:

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today said the country is seeing religious conversions in a structured manner that is opposite to the country’s values and constitutional principles with a “sugar-coated philosophy” being sold and vulnerable sections of the society targeted.

Delivering the inaugural address at the Hindu Spiritual and Seva Mela 2024, he said this is dangerous and is happening through “policy, institutionally, and in a planned conspiracy”.

“A sugar-coated philosophy is being sold. Vulnerable sections of the society, including tribals, are being targeted and lured with temptations,” Vice President Dhankhar said.

“I firmly believe that we are witnessing this very painful religious conversions in a structured manner as a policy, and this is opposite to our values and constitutional principles. There is an urgent need to neutralise such sinister forces. We must remain vigilant and act swiftly. You cannot imagine the extent of those who are currently active in fragmenting India,” he said.

#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar says, “The values ​​of our constitution define Sanatana Dharma very well. Sanatana Dharma is enshrined in the preamble. Our constitutional values ​​can be seen in Sanatana Dharma. The preamble of the Indian Constitution… pic.twitter.com/vG3IWoj9BN

— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024

Vice President Dhankhar also said the Preamble of the Constitution reflects the essence of Sanatan Dharma.

“Hindu religion is quintessentially inclusive in true sense. Spending life in the service of others is the essence and basic mantra of Indian culture. Even today the spirit of service is strongly present in Hindu society,” he said.

He said the Indian society handholds in distress at the cost of one’s stress.

The Vice President said invaders came, foreign powers ruled, yet there has never been a decline in India’s spirit of service. The people have consistently walked this path, he said, adding even today the sentiment of service is strongly present in Hindu society.

Vice President Dhankhar said many reports of studies by international bodies are being released, and most of them try to find shortcomings in India, suggesting that India is a country where four out of 10 people are engaged in public service, helping others.

“I do not agree with the figure of 40 per cent; this assessment is not accurate; the actual number is much higher. We are a society that supports others in distress at the cost of our own stress,” he said.

New Delhi:

The BJP will never change the Preamble of the Indian Constitution or end reservation, Union Minister Rajnath Singh said in an exclusive interview with NDTV. Mr Singh said that the Congress had changed the Preamble in 1976, but is now trying to unnecessarily target the BJP and make it a poll issue.

“In 1976, the first time a change was made to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. And that was done by Indira Gandhi,” Mr Singh told NDTV.

“And our constituent assembly was then of the consensus that amendments can be made to the Constitution as required. Congress and other political parties have done this a lot. But there is no question of making changes in the preamble. But they did it, and are now trying to blame us. The BJP does not even think about it,” he added.

Rajnath Singh’s remarks come after claims by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the BJP will “tear up and throw away” the Constitution if it retains power. Some other Congress functionaries had expressed apprehensions that the BJP may drop the word “secularism” from the Preamble of the Constitution.

Mr Singh also said that the ruling party has no plans of ending caste-based reservation, but will never give reservation based on religion.

“Why would we end reservation? This country needs reservation for OBC, ST. They (Opposition) are the ones talking about giving reservations on the basis of religion. But we say that in no situation will we give religion-based reservation as the Constitution does not allow it,” the Defence Minister said.

The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is hoping to win their third ongoing term. Six of the seven phases of voting for the Lok Sabha elections have already been held, with results to be announced on June 4 after the final round of voting on June 1.

New Delhi:

The BJP government will never change the Constitution or end reservation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, accusing the Congress of creating “fear psychosis” and resorting to spreading misinformation for “vote bank” politics.

In an interview with PTI, Mr Singh blasted the Congress for spreading “canards” that the BJP will change the Constitution if it returns to power and especially asserted that there was no question of changing the Preamble of the Constitution.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been alleging that the BJP will “tear up and throw away” the Constitution if it retains power. Some other Congress functionaries had expressed apprehensions that the BJP may drop the word “secularism” from the Preamble of the Constitution.

“Congress brought constitutional amendments 80 times. They changed the Preamble during the Emergency,” the Defence Minister said.

“The BJP will never change the Constitution. Constitution makers never imagined that there would be changes in the Preamble. You (Congress) only acted to hurt the core idea of the Constitution,” Mr Singh said.

“There is no question of changing the Preamble of the Constitution. They changed it and now they are making baseless allegations against us,” he added.

The Preamble to the Constitution of India presents the principles of the Constitution. The 42nd Amendment in 1976 changed the description of India from a “sovereign democratic republic” to a “sovereign socialist secular democratic republic”.

“They (Congress) are trying to get peoples’ support by instilling fear among the citizens,” Singh said.

“I would suggest that they should try to get people’s support by creating confidence and not by instilling fears. Electoral campaigns should be based on facts,” he said.

On Friday, Mr Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS are attacking India’s democracy continuously and want to “destroy” the country’s Constitution.

“The Congress is creating fear psychosis” and resorting to spreading misinformation for “vote bank politics”, the Defence Minister said.

On the issue of reservation also, he alleged that the Congress is misleading the nation.

“The Congress is trying to mislead people. There will not be any end to reservation. They are making false allegations against us,” Mr Singh said.

The Congress has asked BJP leaders to clear the party’s stance on whether it would remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes.

“We will not tinker with the reservation at all,” Mr Singh said, when asked about the Congress’ call to clarify on the 50 per cent cap.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A video is doing rounds on social media (here and here) showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public gathering on the constitution with a claim that he said, “I will replace the old constitution with one based on Manusmriti, which not even Baba Saheb Ambedkar himself could abolish.”

Let’s verify the claim made in the post.

Claim: PM Modi stated, “I will change the old constitution to make a constitution with Manusmriti which even Baba Saheb Ambedkar himself cannot end.”

Fact: In the original video, PM Modi stated “Concerning the Constitution, you should accept it, and mark these words of Modi, even if Babasaheb Ambedkar himself were to appear, he wouldn’t be able to annul the Constitution. Our Constitution is the Geeta, Ramayana, Bible, and Quran for the government.”

Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.

On performing a reverse image search using the keyframes of the video, we found media articles featuring an image of PM Modi in the same attire discussing this speech. We discovered that he delivered this speech at an election rally in Rajasthan’s Barmer on April 12, 2024.

Furthermore, contrary to the claim made in the viral post, media reports indicated that PM Modi said that the Constitution is everything to the government, and even Babasaheb Ambedkar cannot abolish it.

Upon further research, we located the full video of the speech on PM Modi’s official YouTube channel. In it, PM Modi stated, “Regarding the Constitution, you should accept it, and take note of these words of Modi, even if Babasaheb Ambedkar himself were to appear, he wouldn’t be able to abolish the Constitution. Our Constitution is akin to the Geeta, Ramayana, Bible, and Quran for the (BJP) government.”

Following this statement, he proceeded to criticize the INDIA alliance and the Congress manifesto. The video was edited from the time frame 34:28 to 34:46 and then shared.

To sum up, PM Modi did not mention implementing Manusmriti by changing the Constitution.

(This story was originally published by Factly, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective.)