No one can change Constitution, says CM Fadnavis

The remarks were made by the chief minister while participating in a discussion on the completion of 75 years of the Indian Constitution

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the Constitution of the country could not be changed at any cost and would continue to exist “as long as the sun and the moon exist”. Asking the opposition to take up a new issue, he said that nobody would believe the “narrative” that the Constitution was going to be changed. He also reminded the opposition that past attempts to “finish the Constitution” had always failed.

CM Devendra Fadnavis (Hindustan Times)

The remarks were made by the chief minister while participating in a discussion on the completion of 75 years of the Indian Constitution. It was the first time that the state assembly had held a discussion like this, one moreover which continued for two days. This was significant, given the backdrop of the allegations made by the Congress and other opposition parties that the Modi-led government was out to finish the Constitution. The BJP alleged that it was because of these allegations that its seats in the Lok Sabha polls reduced by 63, and it failed to hit the majority mark of 272.

The discussion in the state concluded with the speech of the chief minister, who termed the Indian Constitution as the best in the world. “No one can change the constitution. For the next election, the opposition should look for a new narrative,” the CM said sarcastically, adding, “As long as the sun and the moon exists, our Constitution will also exist.”

Fadnavis stated the Constitution was based on the highest Indian values and gave equal rights to all. Pointing to the Congress, he said, “I want to remind those who are raising slogans to save the Constitution how the then prime minister Indira Gandhi brought in 99 changes in the Constitution and snatched away all the rights of the people, including their fundamental rights. Over 100,000 people from the opposition were put behind bars for no reason by invoking the Maintenance of Internal Security Act. I am reminding those who talk about the action by the Enforcement Directorate of this.”

Fadnavis also said that judges taking political positions was not a new phenomenon. “This began when the Chief Justice of the Bombay high court M C Chhagla was first appointed as ambassador to the United States and later was a union minister in the central government,” he said, giving examples of many other judges.