Rahul Gandhi accuses RSS-BJP of trying to dismantle India’s constitutional values, alleging a preference for Manusmriti over Ambedkar’s vision. His remarks follow RSS calls to review “Secular” and “Socialist” in the Preamble, igniting political and ideological debate across the country ahead of key elections.
In a fiery political salvo that has reignited ideological fault lines across India’s political spectrum, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of systematically working to erode the foundational values of the Indian Constitution.
Posting on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi alleged that the RSS harbours a deep-rooted discomfort with the core principles enshrined in the Constitution — namely equality, secularism, and justice. He stated that both the RSS and the BJP are not just indifferent to these ideals but are actively hostile to them.
“The mask is off,” Gandhi declared, suggesting that the ideological motivations of the Sangh Parivar have been laid bare. According to him, their vision for India is not guided by the inclusive and democratic framework crafted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, but rather by the Manusmriti — an ancient Hindu text that codifies a hierarchical social order based on caste.
This trenchant critique came in response to recent remarks made by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who called for a national debate on whether the words “Secular” and “Socialist” should remain in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. These terms were inserted during the 42nd Amendment in 1976, under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, during the Emergency period — a move that continues to draw both criticism and support.
While critics of the amendment argue that the circumstances under which it was introduced cast doubt on its legitimacy, defenders view these terms as vital pillars of India’s constitutional morality. For many in the opposition, Hosabale’s comments signal the RSS’s growing assertiveness in redefining the constitutional ethos of the country.
Congress leaders responded sharply, accusing the RSS and the BJP of laying the groundwork for a long-term ideological shift aimed at undoing Ambedkar’s vision for a modern and equitable India. “This isn’t just rhetoric,” a senior Congress leader said. “This is part of a sustained campaign to rewrite the values upon which the Republic stands.”
Rahul Gandhi, known for his repeated confrontations with the Hindutva-driven ideology of the BJP, once again invoked the writings of V.D. Savarkar — a key inspiration for the Sangh. He pointed to Savarkar’s contention that the Manusmriti, not the Constitution, should serve as the foundation of Indian governance. By bringing these views into public discourse, Gandhi aims to highlight what he sees as a regressive attempt to dismantle India’s secular and democratic framework.
The BJP, however, dismissed Gandhi’s comments as typical political grandstanding. “Rahul Gandhi is resorting to ideological fear-mongering because he has nothing substantive to offer the nation,” said a BJP spokesperson. “The call for debate by the RSS leader is democratic in spirit and should not be misinterpreted.”
Yet, Gandhi’s remarks have struck a chord with several civil society groups, especially Dalit organisations and legal activists who have long feared a dilution of constitutional protections under the current regime. Many in the opposition view this as a moment of reckoning in India’s political discourse — a time to reassert the primacy of constitutional values in the face of ideological revisionism.
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This ideological confrontation between the Congress and the RSS-BJP camp is not new but has now taken a more assertive and confrontational tone. With Rahul Gandhi assuming the mantle of Leader of the Opposition, it is clear that the Congress plans to make the defense of the Constitution a cornerstone of its political strategy.
As India gears up for a series of state elections and political realignments, the debate over what defines the soul of the nation — Ambedkar’s Constitution or an alternative rooted in ancient texts — is likely to become even more intense and consequential.
