Bhubaneswar, May 15: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged voters in Odisha to protect the Constitution by voting in large numbers for the INDIA bloc. Notably, the former Congress president refrained from criticizing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) during his speech.

Addressing a public gathering in the Bolangir constituency, Gandhi emphasized that the primary issue in this election is safeguarding the Constitution and upholding the principles established by B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhi warned that the erosion of the Constitution would lead to the loss of citizens' rights, land, the reservation system, and public sector enterprises. He cautioned that the country would fall under the control of 22 billionaires if the Constitution were undermined.

"For the first time, a political party has openly stated that it intends to dismantle the Constitution if it wins. The rights and protections for the poor, Dalits, minorities, tribals, farmers, and laborers exist because of the Constitution. BJP senior leaders are threatening to tear this document apart. I want to tell every BJP worker and leader that no one in the world can dare to touch the Constitution," said Gandhi.

He added that BJP leaders also claim they will abolish the reservation system, a vital support provided to Dalits, Adivasis, and backward communities by Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gandhi pledged that, if the INDIA alliance forms the government on June 4, wages under the MGNREGS would be increased to Rs 400, salaries of Anganwadi and ASHA workers would be doubled, and 30 lakh vacant government posts would be filled by Congress.

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