The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS of reinforcing barriers that obstruct the paths of Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. 

Addressing the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyaan (Save Constitution Campaign) event at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi, the Senior Congress leader said that while the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government made efforts to dismantle these barriers, it did not weaken the wall to the extent it should have.

Rahul Gandhi further said that he can guarantee that PM Modi has not read the Constitution. He continued that if the Prime Minister had read the Constitution, that he would not do what he does daily. The Leader of Opposition asserted that the Constitution is not merely a document but embodies India’s values of truth and non-violence, cultivated over thousands of years.

He also pointed out that the country’s whole system is pitted against Dalits, Adivasis, and backward class people, mentioning that a wall stands in the way of Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs, and PM Modi along with the RSS are strengthening that wall by adding cement to it.

The Congress leader also reflected on the UPA’s initiatives, such as MGNREGA and the Right to Food, which he said aimed to weaken these barriers. The BJP are strengthening that wall by adding concrete, he continued.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also praised the ongoing caste census in Telangana as a significant step forward, promising that the Congress will do the same wherever it comes to power.

Additionally, Rahul Gandhi also said that many want to pursue careers in engineering or media, but systemic barriers often deny them opportunities. He added that today, there is hardly any representation of backward communities in media ownership or among anchors, which reflects the skewed opportunities available to them.

Describing the Constitution as a tool for justice, Rahul Gandhi called for a renewed focus on its values, which he said were being undermined. He mentioned that the entire system in this country is working against Dalits, Adivasis, and backward-class people, and it is their responsibility to restore the vision of the Constitution.

Amid major suspense over Mahayuti’s choice for the top post, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday. He tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, were also present at Raj Bhavan.

Eknath Shinde will continue to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed. In the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a landslide victory, bagging 235 seats in the 288-member Assembly. At present, the coalition has failed to arrive at a consensus on who should be the next chief minister.

The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde has maintained that he should continue to lead the state, emphasizing that the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which proved to be the game-changer in the elections, was his brainchild. Notably, on the counting day, Eknath Shinde too stated that the results are the reflection of the hard work they have done in the past 2.5 years.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders, which recorded its highest ever tally in the state, have been pitching for Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as the chief minister for a third time. Also, NCP’s Ajit Pawar has backed BJP’s claim. In the elections, the BJP secured 132 seats, its best performance in Maharashtra, while allies Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats respectively.

Furthermore, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has urged the BJP leadership to replicate the Bihar pattern in Maharashtra for appointing Shinde as the chief minister. The MP said that Nitish Kumar was made the Chief Minister of Bihar even though his party didn’t have the majority.

Earlier on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde took to X and urged his supporters not to throng his official residence to pitch for his continuation as the chief minister. He said that out of love for him, some people have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai, but he appeals that no one should come together in his support in such a manner. He also expressed gratitude.

Massive violence broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra after the protestors pelted stones and clashed with the security forces during their protests against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi atop Trikuta hills. 

Reports said that the protestors hurled stones at the security personnel and damaged a CRPF vehicle. Paramvir Singh, Reasi SSP told media that the protest was going on peacefully for the past three days but on Monday some protesters pelted stones at the security forces. 

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, the shopkeepers and labourers on Sunday took out a protest rally on the third day of their strike and held a sit-in outside the office of the subdivisional magistrate and Shalimar Park in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine. 

A member of the joint committee of shopkeepers and pony and palanquin owners had said that the 72-hour strike has been extended by another 24 hours, adding that they will meet again and announce our future course of action. Notably, the three-day strike called by them began on Friday. 

Reports stated that while the businesses located at the base camp of Katra remained operational, shops lining the pilgrimage route from Ban Ganga to Charan Paduka observed closures. Nonetheless, the suspension of pony and palanquin services is causing hardships for the pilgrims, especially the elderly and differently-abled, to continue their sacred journey.

The residents have been complaining that the project would negatively impact the environment and their livelihoods. They asserted that the ropeway project would render them jobless, and also accused the authorities of pushing through the development without adequate consultation.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assured the protestors of their employment. He mentioned that the committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner has been deliberating on the ropeway project and the rehabilitation of the locals. Furthermore, he also emphasised that the genuine concerns of the locals would be considered while the development of the region would not be ignored.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had announced implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims. As per the project details, the ropeway will be developed with a cost of Rs 250 crore between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track.