A controversy has erupted following alleged remarks by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lallu Singh, suggesting the necessity of a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha to facilitate amendments to the Constitution. The reported comments, captured in a video from an event in Ayodhya’s Milkipur, have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
According to reports by The Times of India, Singh, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad constituency, can be purportedly heard in the video stating, “But to make amendments to the Constitution, or to have a new Constitution, we need more than two-thirds majority.”
Congress leader Pawan Khera shared the video on social media, condemning Singh’s alleged remarks and questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would endorse such sentiments.
Similarly, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav urged the Election Commission to take action against Singh, emphasizing the gravity of discussing fundamental changes to the Constitution.
In response to the backlash, Singh clarified that his statement was a “slip of the tongue” and reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the country. He said that he intended to emphasize the importance of ensuring Prime Minister Modi’s return to power and the need for constitutional amendments to further national progress.
This incident adds to a series of controversial statements made by BJP leaders regarding potential amendments to the Constitution. Previously, BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde and Lok Sabha election candidate Jyoti Mirdha had also stirred controversy with similar remarks, calling for a two-thirds majority to enable changes to the Constitution.
The remarks by Singh come in the wake of Prime Minister Modi’s dismissal of claims by the Opposition INDIA bloc that the Constitution would be altered under a BJP-led government. Modi had labelled such assertions as indicative of a lack of fresh ideas within the opposition alliance.
