PM Modi to conclude Constitution debate in Lok Sabha today

The Prime Minister is likely to address the Lok Sabha at 5 pm.

The debate has been called to mark 75 years of the country's Constitution.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began the debate on Friday with a fiery speech attacking Congress, the primary opposition party in the country.

Apart from Singh, 12-15 other parliamentarians from the treasury bench are participating in the debate.

Congress always prioritised personal interest over Constitution: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lashed out at the Congress, beginning the government's address to the debate over the Constitution in Parliament's lower house Lok Sabha.

Singh, who was the first speaker from the ruling coalition NDA, said, "Congress has never respected the Constitution, nor the Constitutional values, nor the Constitutional institutions. Congress leaders have always placed personal interest above constitutional values and institutional dignity."

"The Congress party, which is singing the praises of the Constitution today, instead of respecting the order of the Supreme Court, crushed the freedom of speech and expression of the citizens by making constitutional amendments in 1951 itself. The first general election in the country had not even taken place. Congress had no mandate."

Referring to the Shah Bano case, the defence minister said, "Remember the Shah Bano case which was a landmark decision for the rights of Muslim women in India. In this case, the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of Shah Bano.

"Through this decision, the Supreme Court had said that Muslim women are also entitled to receive alimony."

Centre should stop projecting itself as protector of Constitution, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday targeted PM Narendra Modi-led government in her maiden address in the Lok Sabha where she said Centre should stop projecting itself as the ‘protector of Constitution’.

"When we talk of political justice, the ruling party says that in 1975 many things happened, then why don’t you also learn from it. You also apologise for your mistakes. Go for elections on ballot paper," she was quoted as saying in the Lok Sabha by the media when she participated in the debate on the "Glorious Journey of 75 years on the Constitution of India".

"The ruling party gave an example of Uttar Pradesh. Let me also give examples as to what happened with the Maharashtra government, how an attempt was made to bring down the Himachal Pradesh government with the strength of money and what about the Goa government. Were these governments not elected by the people?" she was quoted as saying by UNI.

Debate amid logjam over 'Sonia Gandhi-George Soros' link issue

The debate is being held amid the logjam in parliament over Sonia Gandhi-George Soros' alleged link.

The BJP on Sunday alleged Sonia was linked to George Soros funded Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific (FDL-AP) and she served the organisation in the capacity of the co-president.

The BJP has alleged Soros founded organisation supported the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation.

The party also claimed that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, under Sonia Gandhi’s chairmanship, partnered with the Soros Foundation, "demonstrating the impact of foreign funding on Indian organizations."

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, "These kinds of theories have no place in serious political discourse...These kinds of deep state theories must be dismissed."