Mumbai, Nov 27 – Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole on Sunday expressed fear that if the BJP government comes to power again, the voting rights of the common people may also be in danger.
Speaking at a function organised by MPCC’s Scheduled Caste department and Mumbai Congress Scheduled Caste department on occasion of Constitution Day at Dadar in central Mumbai, he said that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was of opinion that every citizen of the country should have the right to vote, but some people even opposed this.
The opinion of these people was that only those who pay taxes should have the right to vote, but Dr Ambedkar overturned it and gave the common people the right to vote, he expressed.
While the Congress was in power, the Constitution was untouched, but in last 9.5 years, the Constitution has been amended multiple times, he pointed.
After 2024, if BJP is re-elected, will the common people still have the right to vote, he expressed fear.
Accusing the BJP government of having taken away the freedom of media, the MPCC chief alleged that administrative system was also in danger with the BJP government directly appointing top officials following RSS ideology to the post of joint secretaries.
Also, the judiciary system was also being interfered with, the central government was arbitrarily making appointments of judges, he further alleged.
Thus, BJP has weakened all four pillars of democracy, but the Congress had maintained independence of these four pillars of democracy, Patole added.
AICC SC, ST, OBC, Minority Cell coordinator K Raju, chairman of SC Division of AlCC Rajesh Lilothia, president of Mumbai Congress, former minister Varsha Gaikwad, state Congress SC Cell president Siddharth Hattiambire among others were present on the occasion.
