Tue Nov 26 03:13:15 UTC 2024: ## Congress Holds Constitution Day Seminar, Vows to Protect India’s Secular Fabric

**New Delhi, November 26** – The Indian National Congress launched its “Samvidhan Rakshak” (Constitution Protector) campaign today with a large seminar at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, coinciding with Constitution Day. The event, addressed by Rajesh Lilothia, Chairperson of the Congress’s Scheduled Caste Department, served as a rallying cry against what the party termed the BJP government’s erosion of constitutional rights.

Lilothia accused the BJP and RSS of systematically undermining the Constitution, specifically targeting the rights of marginalized communities. He highlighted the BJP’s alleged weakening of land, water, and forest rights, transferring them to corporate interests. The Congress, he stated, is committed to establishing village-level “Constitution Protection Committees” to counter this trend.

A key focus of the seminar was the demand for a caste census, reflecting the Congress’s belief in “Jiski jitni sankhya bhaari, uski utni hissedari” – representation proportional to population size. Discussions also centered on the rights of marginalized communities and the need to combat the “saffronization” of education.

The Congress also reiterated its commitment to internal party reforms, pledging 50% reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities, and women in organizational roles. Lilothia criticized the BJP’s focus on religious politics, arguing that it distracts from crucial issues such as education, employment, and healthcare. He asserted that the BJP’s approach is unsustainable in the long term.

The seminar attracted thousands of participants from across the country, showcasing the Congress’s aim to build a broad-based movement to defend the Constitution and its principles. The event underscored the party’s ongoing efforts to counter the BJP’s political narrative and mobilize support for its vision of a more inclusive and equitable India.

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