Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday alleged that the BJP-led central government was attempting to omit secularism and socialism from the Constitution. Addressing the party’s ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ here, Kharge also said the tribals, dalits, women and youths were not safe under the BJP rule.

“The saffron party has a mission to change the Constitution... The BJP government at the Centre is attempting to omit secularism and socialism from our Constitution,” he asserted.  Kharge said the Congress had introduced the Forest Rights Act in 2006 to protect the poor and tribals. However, the Narendra Modi-led government is trying to weaken the legislation, he alleged.

“In the name of industry, the BJP government is destroying forests everywhere... They will also wipe out dalits, tribals and youths unless they learn to fight for their rights,” claimed the Congress chief. Kharge also accused BJP supporters in Odisha of attacking dalits and government officers in Odisha. “Two dalit men were recently tonsured, made to crawl on their knees, forced to eat grass and drink dirty water in Odisha’s Ganjam... A government officer in Bhubaneswar was also assaulted in full public view,” alleged Kharge.