THIS subject was bound to come up again in consideration of this column (which handled the issue just a couple of weeks ago). For, the Opposition has persisted with the accusation that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hell bent upon changing the Constitution drastically, in an attempt to change its core values and structure. So, when the issue was raised during the interview, the Prime Minister was at his patient best, and explained in most controlled tone how he worshiped the Constitution of India beyond any politics or ideology. Without losing his cool, without sounding irritated, without sounding traumatised by the question, Mr. Narendra Modi offered the details of his devotion and dedication to the Constitution. The power of his patient words could be sensed easily as the Prime Minister listed the points of contrast between the conduct of his Government and party vis-a-vis Constitution. He talked of the Constitution not just as a legal frame and moral base of the country’s system of governance, but also as a spiritual core of a democratic India. How can anybody then think that we are out to change the Constitution? -- the Prime Minister asked. The Prime Minister also listed instances of how persons of the eminence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Rajiv Gandhi toyed with the Constitution and played foul with the sacred document from time to time. Yet, it is must be said in all sincerity that Mr. Narendra Modi’s tone and tenor did not betray his frustration or anger at being accused wrongly.

 

He seemed to consider such accusations as an unavoidable evil of democratic discourse -- particularly in election time. No matter the ideological differences, nobody would disagree with the Prime Minister’s assertions about his dedication to the Constitution. Yet, time and again, the Opposition raises the issue of the Prime Minister’s agenda to alter the Constitution once he gets elected for the third term in office. And, time and again, without losing patience, the Prime Minister responds to the baseless criticism, possibly inwardly thanking the Opposition for giving him the opportunity to clear his side of the debate once again, with an amazing sense of self-control. The nation will never forget the moment when Mr. Narendra Modi entered the Parliament building for the first time. He stopped at the steps, knelt down, placed his hands on the steps and placed his head on the threshold of the historic building. Later, he also bowed in almost a similar fashion to the document of the Constitution placed in Parliament building. The nation can never forget those moments. Let alone all that, the Prime Minister said something else that should make everybody think twice before levelling any charges.

 

Mr. Narendra Modi said, in effect, ‘Have you considered another reality of our present numbers in Parliament? Don’t you realise that we are already close to 400 combined. If we wanted to alter the Constitution, we could have as well done that with our present numbers. Did we do that?’ This poser has its own importance. It shows that the accusation of the Opposition that the Prime Minister wants to tamper with the Constitution has no meaning and substance. There also is another angle: If Mr. Modi can get things done the way he wishes with the current form and content of the Constitution, then why should he go to the extent of altering the Constitution? Every indications points to the fact that Mr. Modi is all set to win a third term for himself with a greater margin of seats -- which demonstrates his popularity as a person and as a Prime Minister. With this kind of authentic control over public opinion, he need not do anything as drastic as altering the Constitution of India. The Opposition may, still, not be convinced about the right intentions of the Prime Minister. -- However, common people of India trust him!