Congress MP Naseer Hussain challenges Bihar CM to break silence on Preamble row

Patna, Jun 29 (PTI) Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Sunday challenged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to break his silence over BJP-RSS' objection to the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Constitution’s Preamble.

Addressing a press conference here, Hussain said the Congress would never allow the ‘conspiracy' of the BJP-RSS to succeed.

Hussain’s remarks came days after RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale reignited debate by suggesting a review of the words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the Constitution's Preamble.

"It's a known fact that the BJP-RSS is against the Constitution. This is a conspiracy to destroy Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar's Constitution, which the RSS-BJP has been hatching for long. The Congress will never allow the BJP-RSS conspiracy to succeed," Hussain said.

"JD(U) supremo and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who comes from a socialist background, must break his silence over the issue. He should oppose it or he should merge his party with the BJP", Hussain said. The JD(U) is an alliance partner of the NDA.

The Congress leader asserted that Hosabale's remark was an organised attempt by the BJP to dismantle the Constitution.

"The BJP is spreading hatred and creating social divide. The party does not want to contest elections on issues of development and national interest. They (BJP-RSS) have been constantly pitting one community against another to polarise people and spread hatred", he alleged.

Hussain, who participated in a protest against the Waqf Amendment Act held at Gandhi Maidan here, said, "Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and our national president Mallikarjun Kharge were invited to participate in the protest. But due to prior commitments, they sent their messages instead".

"Members of other religions are being dragged into a law originally meant for a specific community, causing unnecessary harassment. Documents are being demanded for mosques and places of worship built 400 years ago, and there is a consistent effort to grab the land of Muslim community by the NDA government through Waqf Amendment Act", he claimed. PTI PKD MNB