‘Constitution under threat, protect it to survive,’ urges Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

He urged the people to realise that the propaganda was being spread by those who have been against the Constitution since it came into effect on 26 January 1950. “This should not be tolerated,” he said while underscoring the need for protecting the Constitution.

Siddaramaiah further added that every government was duty-bound to eradicate inequality in the country.

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Society of contradictions

“We are entering a society of contradictions. In a society with social and economic inequality, political democracy can succeed only when it rests on the foundations of social democracy. Ambedkar had said that those who suffer from inequality will destroy the edifice of democracy. Eradication of social inequality is the responsibility of every government,” he said.

The senior Congress leader said power should be in the rightful hands for the Constitution to succeed. “The Constitution will succeed if it is in the hands of those who are in favour of the Constitution, equality and those who want to build a human society,” he asserted.

“If it is in the hands of those who are against the Constitution, we have no survival,” he added.

Siddaramaiah urged all to read the Constitution. “Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, read and understood the constitutions of many countries and drafted the Constitution in such a way as to suggest solutions to the country’s problems. He said that the constitution of India is the greatest,” the chief minister recalled.

As part of the Amrita Mahotsava celebration of the adoption of the Constitution, a constitution awareness jatha — or rally — has been organised in the state from 26 January 2024. The jatha travelled through 31 districts and informed the people about the purpose, inevitability, and necessity of the Constitution.

The chief minister distributed prizes and mementos to Tumakuru, Davangere, Mysuru, Kodagu, and Bellary districts for organising the best activities.

Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraja Horatti, Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, Supreme Court Justice (Retd) Gopal Gowda, High Court Justice (Retd) Nagamohan Das, Minister Priyank Kharge, MLA Somasekar, and Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shalini Rajneesh were present.