Constitution debate: In trite script, Modi attacks Congress, steers clear of India’s present crises

In his concluding speech to the discussion over the Constitution in Parliament on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again relied on his worn out script of criticising the Congress party for the Emergency imposed in the 1970s, while steering clear of the blatant undermining of Constitutional institutions under his own regime.

Modi recalled Emergency as a "dark period when constitutional rights were snatched, the country turned into a jail, and media freedom clamped down". However, the PM's attempt to counter Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s speech -- where the Congress leader launched a scathing attack on the government’s failures -- fell flat as the PM failed to address Gandhi’s pointed criticism on erosion of Constitutional norms, crime against women, crony capitalism, the Sambhal violence and social unrest.

While Modi accused Congress of “tearing apart the Constitution” during the Emergency, he remained silent on the tottering democracy under his own rule.

Youths like Umar Khalid, jailed under questionable charges, languish behind bars without justice, while dissenters face relentless harassment. Independent institutions -- once the bedrock of India’s democratic framework -- have been systematically undermined during his tenure, with critics accusing the government of weaponising investigative agencies ED, CBI, IT to silence opposition voices.

Even Modi's reference to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) appeared more of a political ploy than a genuine commitment to reforms. While he quoted B.R. Ambedkar and K.M. Munshi to justify UCC, he failed to address why his government has not initiated transparent discussions or built consensus on this sensitive issue. The lack of clarity underscored the gap between rhetoric and action.

Modi also took aim at the Nehru-Gandhi family, accusing them of “hurting the Constitution” and pursuing “wrong thoughts, wrong deeds, and wrong policies”.

Yet, his critique of dynastic politics came across as hypocritical. While he lambasted Congress for promoting dynasties, Modi ignored his own party’s record-whether it’s Jay Shah’s meteoric rise in the cricket administration or the BJP’s roster of dynastic politicians in state and national politics.

Critics have often highlighted how Modi uses double standards to attack the Opposition while turning a blind eye to the same flaws within his own party.

Not surprisingly, defense minister Rajnath Singh too, while initiating the debate on Constitution, began his speech on Friday with similar references to the Emergency, further revealing the BJP’s lack of new ideas or vision.

The ruling party’s obsession with the Congress’ past appears to be a convenient distraction from the present-day crises-a growing unemployment rate, deepening communal polarisation, institutional decay, and the erosion of press freedom.

Modi’s speech underlined a recurring pattern in his governance: evoking history and Congress-bashing while failing to address India’s urgent needs. His focus on the Emergency, a decades-old event during the speech, as per political watchers, reflects a leadership unwilling to confront accountability.

India today faces a host of pressing challenges -- as highlighted by several Opposition leaders in their speeches during the debate -- those of unemployment, widening economic disparity, communalism and the eroding credibility of its vital institutions among others. A leader truly committed to upholding constitutional values would engage with these issues head-on. But Prime Minister Modi, nevertheless, chose to put on yet another performance from a trite script, offering theatrics but no solutions.