In a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha marking the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing the party of repeatedly undermining the Constitution through amendments during its rule. Sitharaman specifically targeted India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, referring to the first Constitutional amendment in 1951 that aimed to curb freedom of speech, despite Nehru's public support for press freedom.

She also criticized Congress for its actions in curbing freedom of expression, citing the arrest of poet Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni in 1949, the banning of the book "Nehru: A Political Biography" in 1975, and the ban on Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" in 1988. Sitharaman argued that the amendments made by Congress governments were not designed to strengthen democracy but to protect those in power.

Sitharaman highlighted various amendments, including the controversial 39th Constitutional Amendment in 1975, which was passed to shield Indira Gandhi from a judgment in an election malpractices case. She also referred to the Shah Bano case during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, where the Congress government passed an Act to deny Muslim women alimony rights after a Supreme Court ruling.

Responding to these allegations, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of disrespecting the Constitution and the national flag. He warned that the Constitution was under threat under the current government, and he questioned the BJP's ability to talk about India's past leaders, especially Nehru. Kharge also referred to the situation in Bangladesh, stressing the importance of protecting minorities there.

The debate highlighted ongoing political tensions surrounding the legacy of India's Constitution and its amendments over the years, with both parties fiercely defending their respective stances.