Rahul Gandhi Warns Constitution Under Attack, Calls Modi, Shah, RSS ‘Traitors’ — Implications for Polity

Rahul Gandhi’s Warning on the Constitution On 20 May 2026 , Rahul Gandhi , Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, addressed a Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha in his Raebareli constituency. He said the Constitution is being attacked and that the ideals of Dr B.R. Ambedkar , Mahatma Gandhi , and other reformers must be protected. Key Developments Gandhi linked the Constitution’s spirit to leaders like Narayana Guru and Basavanna, emphasizing a broad moral base. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of “attacking the Constitution 24 hours a day” by weakening MNREGA , ignoring a caste census , and favouring industrialists. Gandhi called Modi, Shah and the RSS “traitors” for selling national interests to big business. He warned of rising inflation, citing the Prime Minister’s own appeal to curb fuel use, gold purchases and foreign travel. Important Facts The speech highlighted several points: The Constitution embodies the ideas of social reformers across India, not just legal text. Statues of leaders are being revered, but their underlying ideology is not being defended. Gandhi urged citizens to speak against policies that undermine the Constitution, even when faced with pressure from RSS workers. He stressed that “the Veera Pasis, Ambedkars and Gandhis of the 21st century will come from among you,” urging grassroots activism. UPSC Relevance This episode is relevant for several UPSC papers. Understanding the Constitution and its framers (especially Ambedkar ) is essential for GS‑2. The criticism of policy measures like MNREGA and the debate over a caste census touch upon GS‑3 (economy) and GS‑1 (society). The role of the RSS in shaping political narratives is a classic GS‑2 topic. Way Forward For aspirants, the take‑aways are: Monitor how political leaders frame constitutional debates, as this influences policy direction. Analyse the impact of weakening welfare schemes like MNREGA on rural employment and social equity. Assess the implications of a delayed or absent caste census on affirmative‑action policies. Study the influence of organisations such as the RSS on electoral politics and governance. Overall, the speech underscores the need for vigilant citizenry to protect constitutional values against partisan erosion.