New Delhi [India], March 24 : BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Monday launched a fierce attack on the Congress party over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's reported statement on the Constitution, calling the Congress Party the "modern Muslim League".
Bhandari also accused the party of attempting to alter Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's framework to favour religious-based reservations and stated, "The Congress party is the modern Muslim League. This is the party that can change the Constitution of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar to provide reservation to Muslims."
Bhandari alleged that the Congress aligns itself with the ideologies of Mughal rulers rather than Ambedkar.
"Today, the Congress party is making it clear that its ideals are Aurangzeb and Babur, not Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. If anyone considers Babasaheb as their role model, they cannot bring religious reservation into the Constitution. It's evident that the Congress party believes in Sharia, like Aurangzeb and Babur," he claimed.
Drawing a historical parallel, the BJP spokesperson added, "Against this appeasement, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar stood against Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Bharatiya Janata Party is now standing against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and the Congress party."
He vowed to resist any changes to the Constitution, stating, "We will not allow these appeasers to change the Constitution of the country. They should understand that this is India, not Pakistan."
This came amid an escalating row over the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister's alleged remarks on the Constitution.
Earlier today, Shivakumar hit back at the BJP over the matter, accusing the party of misquoting him and spreading fake news.
Addressing the controversy, Shivakumar asserted, "I am a sensible, senior politician, more so than Mr Nadda. I have been in the Assembly for the last 36 years. I have basic common sense. I casually said there would be changes after various judgements. As per the quota for backward classes, reservation has been given. I never said we are going to change the Constitution."
The Deputy CM clarified his stance, refuting the BJP's interpretation of his statement.
"Whatever they are quoting is wrong. They are miscarrying it. We are a national party - it is our party that brought the Constitution to this country," he emphasised.
Announcing his next steps, Shivakumar said, "I will take a breach of privilege on this. I will fight a case. They are misquoting me."
He further accused the BJP of a deliberate campaign to mislead, stating, "The BJP always tries to misguide the country... They are peddling fake news."
Shivakumar's remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders over the Karnataka state cabinet approval of an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide a four per cent reservation in tenders to minority contractors.