Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday attacked the Congress party on Tuesday, comparing Constitutional amendments brought by governments led by the BJP to those led by the grand old party.
Speaking in conclusion to the two-day debate on the Constitution in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah said that the ongoing Parliament session will help the people of the country to understand which party has honoured the values of the Constitution and which has not.
Listing out the amendments made to the Constitution made by both the Congress and the BJP, the Home Minister said, “The Opposition says we will change the Constitution. A provision to change the Constitution is already there in our Constitution. The Congress, during its 55 years of rule, made 77 amendments to our Constitution, while the BJP, in 16 years, did so only 22 times”.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: CONGRESS VS BJP
Highlighting specific amendments, Amit Shah explained how the Congress altered fundamental constitutional provisions for political gain, while the BJP focused on empowering citizens and enhancing governance.
Amendments under Congress regime listed by Amit Shah:
- 1st Amendment (June 18, 1951): The first amendment curtailed the right to freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a).
- 24th Amendment (November 5, 1971): Empowered Parliament to amend fundamental rights, diminishing their inviolability.
- 39th Amendment (August 10, 1975): Exempted the election of the Prime Minister and President from judicial scrutiny, enacted during the Emergency to shield political leadership.
- 45th Amendment: Brought additional changes that Shah argued were politically motivated.
Amendments under BJP regime listed by Amit Shah:
- 101st Amendment (2018): The Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced in 2014 revolutionised India’s tax structure by establishing a unified taxation system.
- 102nd Amendment (2018): Granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), ensuring better representation and rights for backward communities.
- 103rd Amendment (2019): Introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in education and government jobs, addressing economic disparities.
- 105th Amendment (2021): Restored the power of state governments to identify Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs), promoting federalism and regional autonomy.
