RSS chief Bhagwat's statement shows he doesn't believe in Constitution Congress

     New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remarks that India's "true independence" was established on the day of Ram temple's consecration, saying the statement has made it clear that he does not believe in the Constitution.
     The opposition party also slammed the BJP for attacking Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that the Congress was fighting "the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself". The Congress said the RSS-BJP people should not give lessons on patriotism.
     "The whole country has seen what was the role of the RSS in the freedom struggle and who the RSS was supporting. The BJP government has been weakening the social structure and economic foundation by taking over the institutions.
     "Rahul ji's vision is democratic, inclusive and just. We are moving ahead with these basic principles," former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Bhagel said.
     Baghel's remarks come a day after Gandhi triggered a row with his remarks. The BJP alleged that everything Gandhi does or says is in the direction of breaking India and dividing the society.
     The former Chhattisgarh chief minister said Gandhi's remarks were twisted and wrongly portrayed by the BJP.
     Baghel highlighted Gandhi's remarks that if anyone had given a statement like Bhagwat in any other country, that person would have been arrested.
     "Mohan Bhagwat and the people of his organisation have been giving statements about the Constitution from time to time. The BJP MPs had also said they would change the Constitution, which makes it clear that they do not believe in the Constitution," he said.
     "Everyone knows that it took 52 years for the RSS to accept the tricolour. Everyone knows the history of the RSS. When millions of Indians were fighting for independence, they were working as partners with the British," Baghel said.
     The Congress leader said Bhagwat's statement clearly shows that he does not believe in the Constitution.
     "It also means that he is insulting our ancestors who fought for independence and made innumerable sacrifices," Baghel said.
     "Mohan Bhagwat and his people have been speaking against the Constitution and they want to change the Constitution," Baghel said.
     Bhagwat on Monday said the date of consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya should be celebrated as "Pratishtha Dwadashi" as the "true independence" of Bharat, which faced "parachakra" (enemy attack) for several centuries, was established on this day.
     He said after India got political independence from the British on August 15, 1947, a written Constitution was made according to the path shown by that specific vision, which comes out of the "self" of the country, but the document was not run according to the spirit of the vision at that time.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)