Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A ‘red book’ has sparked a major debate as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress lock horns in the lead-up to the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly election. The controversy started when Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of seeking support from ‘urban Naxals’ after displaying a ‘red book’ during a recent event in Nagpur.
Jairam Ramesh of the Congress countered Mr. Fadnavis’ allegations, asserting that the book in question was the Constitution of India, crafted by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. “This is the very Constitution that the RSS criticized in 1949 for not being inspired by the Manusmriti,” Mr. Ramesh posted on X, sharing photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah holding similar red-bound copies of the Constitution.
BJP’s Allegations and Congress’ Response
The BJP intensified its critique with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju claiming the book Rahul Gandhi showcased at the Nagpur event was a blank notebook, designed to mimic the Constitution’s appearance. The Maharashtra BJP also shared a video purportedly showing these red-bound blank notebooks being distributed.
In response, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar clarified that all attendees were provided with a notebook and pen for the event. Mr. Ramesh also pointed out that the term ‘urban Naxal’ is not recognized by the Union Home Ministry, quoting a 2020 statement that the government does not officially use this phrase.
Historical Echoes and Upcoming Elections
This controversy echoes Congress’ longstanding campaign focus on protecting the Constitution and defending democratic values against alleged attempts by the BJP to amend it. The BJP’s recent accusations aimed to undermine this narrative, with Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshava Upadhye declaring, “Support to Congress means killing the Constitution.”
The ‘red book’ debate adds another layer to the high-stakes battle as Maharashtra gears up for elections, following a contentious win for the BJP in Haryana that the Congress has challenged.
A Past Controversy Revived
This isn’t the first time Rahul Gandhi’s use of a red-covered book has drawn attention. In May, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed Gandhi was holding a Chinese constitution, only for fact-checks to reveal it was indeed the Indian Constitution.
