“Congress disrespects Constitution, Ambedkar”: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale

New Delhi [India], August 21 (ANI): Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said the Congress was “destroying” the Constitution.

“Congress President Mallikarjun Kahrge talks about saving the Constitution but it’s Congress that has destroyed the Constitution. They have disrespected the Constitution and BR Ambedkar. They want to come into power in Maharashtra, but here, the Mahayuti government will be formed again,” Athawale told ANI.

On Tuesday, while addressing a public gathering in Mumbai on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Kharge said, “Saving the Constitution is still our top priority.”

Highlighting the role of state governments and elected representatives, the Congres chief said, “To save the Constitution, we need MLAs and state governments. If we have a majority in states and in the Rajya Sabha, then nobody will speak about changing the Constitution. If we don’t have our governments in states and MLAs are not elected, how will they get elected to the Rajya Sabha?”

Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s controversial advertisement for lateral entry into government posts which was subsequently withdrawn.

The advertisement, aimed at recruiting individuals from the private sector into high-ranking government roles, was met with opposition from various quarters. The central government withdrew the advertisement, a move Kharge attributed to the strong reaction from Congress and public and political pressure.

“The Modi government withdrew this decision because you are strong. If the Modi government had been in majority, it would have placed RSS people on those posts without giving reservations to anyone,” Kharge said.

The UPSC recently released a notification for recruiting Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry. Following criticism, Department of Personnel and Training wrote to UPSC asking to cancel the advertisement.