Union Health Minister JP Nadda criticized the opposition, especially the Congress party, during a discussion marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution. He used the now-abolished Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir to show how past Congress governments tried to change the Constitution. Nadda praised the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir with India.
He explained that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru allowed Article 370 despite concerns from law minister B.R. Ambedkar. Nehru also imposed Article 35(A) through a presidential order without following proper parliamentary procedures. Nadda highlighted that Sardar Patel united most princely states into India, while Nehru was responsible for Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that Ambedkar believed Article 370 was harmful to India, but Nehru pushed it through.
Nadda pointed out that the Jana Sangh party, which is the precursor to the BJP, opposed having two separate laws and governments in India when Article 370 was in place. He mentioned the sacrifices made by leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee for this cause, emphasizing the BJP as the “good lot” in contrast to the “bad lot” of previous governments.
He accused Congress of keeping central laws out of Jammu and Kashmir, denying benefits like reservations and voting rights for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Nadda also criticized Congress for the Emergency declared in 1975, saying it was meant to protect Indira Gandhi’s position rather than the country.
Nadda urged Congress to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Emergency in 2025 by joining the “Anti-Democracy Day” to reflect on past wrongs. He discussed how the Congress added terms like “secular” and “socialist” to the Constitution for political gain, arguing that they were not needed. He emphasized that many governments were unfairly removed using Article 356 under Congress rule.
He questioned why practices like triple talaq were not banned when many Islamic nations had done so. Nadda spoke about the original Constitution’s symbols, including the lotus, representing resilience and strength in democracy.
Nadda also highlighted Nehru’s failures in managing national security and international relations, especially during the 1962 India-China war. He recalled how India lost significant territory due to diplomatic mistakes.
In conclusion, Nadda remarked that the Constitution creators understood India wasn’t just becoming a nation; it was already established, rooted in its rich culture and history.
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