Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the Constitution of India is “under siege” as the party pursues an “ideological coup” to transform the democratic republic into a “theocratic corporate state” serving a powerful elite.

In a powerful message delivered at the national legal conclave on ‘Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives and Pathways’ in New Delhi on Saturday, Gandhi vowed that the Congress would resist these efforts in Parliament, courts, and on the streets, framing the fight as an ideological commitment to safeguard every Indian’s dignity.

Gandhi accused the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of historically opposing India’s freedom movement and equality principles, citing their past endorsement of the Manusmriti, rejection of the tricolour, and advocacy for a Hindu rashtra. “In power, they’ve eroded institutions, criminalised dissent, targeted minorities, and betrayed Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, and the working poor,” she claimed, alleging that the BJP seeks to erase the Constitution’s pillars of socialism and secularism, central to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of equal citizenship.

Describing the Constitution as the “moral foundation of our democracy,” built on justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, Gandhi highlighted the Congress party’s historical role in its creation. She referenced the Nehru Report of 1928 and the 1934 demand for a Constituent Assembly, noting the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Ambedkar, who warned that political democracy without social and economic justice would be superficial. “The Congress recognised this and acted on it, expanding rights, strengthening institutions, and upholding dignity and inclusion,” she said.

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Gandhi accused the BJP of dismantling this framework, asserting that their policies hollow out democracy and institutionalize discrimination. She commended Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and his team for sparking a vital conversation on constitutional challenges, urging a united effort to “reclaim the republic” and protect the rights of all citizens.

As India grapples with these tensions, Gandhi’s remarks signal a renewed push by the Congress to rally public support and challenge the BJP’s governance model, framing it as a threat to the nation’s democratic ethos.

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