Presently the Congress party and other political parties of INDI alliance are saying that the Modi Government is trying to change the Constitution and going to give it the Saffron colour (meaning forcing Hindutva ideology on the people of India). There have been long agitations in and outside the Parliament, and on many occasion proceedings of the Parliament have been stopped due to agitating members of the opposition parties.
It is well known and documented fact the word SECULAR was added in the preamble of the constitution during the Emergency (1975-77), when almost all top leaders of the opposition were imprisoned.
The Constitution Committee headed by Dr BR Ambedkar who finalised the Constitution of India, was amended to appease Muslims during the Congress rule. After 1975 when the word SECULAR was added to the preamble of the Constitution, there was no need for this appeasement because the word secular means all the people are equal irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. But still the Congress party went on appeasing the Muslims by amending the Constitution so many times even after 1975.
Here are the few examples how the Congress party appeased Muslims after amending the Constitution:
1 In the original Constitution, there was no provision for the creation of the Waqf Board, but the Congress created the Waqf Board and went on giving Waqf Board so many powers, that the Waqf Board is the third largest owner of the land in the country, and after 1995 the situation is that if Waqf Board put a claim on any property saying it belongs to them, no one can file the appeal against that order in any court of law. The matter has to be appealed to the Waqf Board tribunal, where all members are Muslims.
2 In the original Constitution there was no provision for The Muslim Personal Law, but the Congress party during their rule created the Muslim Personal Law and Board for the same.
3 Even after the addition of the word Secular in the preamble of the constitution, The Minority Board was created, which has been headed by the member of Muslim community till date, although there are many other minority communities in India, the Congress party ensured that this Minority Board is headed by Muslim only.
4 There was no provision in the Constitution for funding Madarsas ( Islamic schools). But the Congress government made the provision for funding Madarsas.
5 There was no provision in the constitution for paying monthly salaries to the Maulavis, the Congress government started paying salaries to the Maulavis.
6 In the original Constitution all the Indian women were given equal rights, but on the pretext of appeasing Muslim Imams, Maulavis and other male members of the Muslim community, the Muslim women were not given same right as Hindu women, like the Muslim women could not claim maintenance from the ex husband after divorce. Remember the Shah Banoo case, when the Supreme Court (SC) gave the order giving maintenance to Muslim women (Shah Banoo), the Congress government headed by Rajiv Gandhi amended the Constitution, and went against the order of the SC.
7 In the original Constitution all the Indian men were given equal rights, but the Congress party saw to it that all the men are not having equal rights. In case of bigamy a Hindu man can face imprisonment, whereas a Muslim man can have four wives.
Item 6 & 7 clearly show that Hindus and other minority communities have to follow Indian Personal law, where as Muslim community is following their own personal law.
8 There was no provision in the original Constitution for the Article 370. This Article gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This was proclaimed by the President’s order, and this order was not passed by the Parliament. The article 370 was annulled by the Modi government by a President order, which was later passed by the both houses of Parliament. Now the Congress party is saying that as and when they come back to power they will restore the Article 370. One more instance where they want to appease Kashmiri Muslims.
Above cited are few instances, which clearly shows that the Congress party went on and on appeasing Muslim community during their rule either by amending the Constitution or passing laws or by through President’s order, and see the irony, today they are saying that the Modi government is planning to change the Constitution, and will give it saffron colour, where as the Modi government says their policy is development for all.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
24th December 2024