RSS-BJP harbour design to tinker with Constitution: Lalu

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today alleged the RSS and the BJP are harbouring sinister design to replace the Constitution with a new one based on 'Manusmriti' that doesn't recognise 'Shudras' and 'untouchables' as human being.
"BJP's intention is dangerous as they want to write a new Constitution based on 'Manusmriti' as suggested by RSS. The Sangh never accepted the Constitution as Golwalkar termed it as the copycat of foreign Constitutions," Prasad said while addressing a function organised at RJD state headquarters to celebrate the party's 20th Foundation Day.
The Constitution is based on the principles of equality and made provisions for reservation for Dalits and backwards, Prasad said, adding had the provision of reservation not been there, the Dalits, the backwards and the women would have been slave.

He said universal adult franchise has benefited the Dalits and backwards in politics.
In the 1952 Lok Sabha elections, there were 245 members of those communities having 10-15 per cent of votes while those having 54 per cent of votes had merely 59 representatives in Lok Sabha, he said.
The number of representatives from backwards class increased to 260 in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections and to 308 in 1991 elections, he said, adding, "We won't let anyone tinker with the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar and others."

Similarly in 1952 elections in Bihar assembly, the number of representatives from upper castes was 162 while that from backward was 37. This increased to 109 for backward class and was 101 for upper class in 1995, the RJD boss said.

He exhorted party leaders and workers to be ready to end the Narendra Modi regime in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Claiming that Central ministers from Bihar have not done any work for the state, he asked people "when will 'Achche Din' come, what happened to bringing back black money, employment generation."
During his speech on the occasion, party leader Prabhunath Singh claimed officers "did not give the respect" to RJD workers.
Prasad said he will think over what Prabhunath Singh said.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included party vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav, Finance Minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, state president Ramchandra Purbe, and Prabhunath Singh.