The Congress on Tuesday marked the 76th anniversary of the Draft Constitution’s adoption by highlighting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s pivotal role in shaping the foundational document of independent India. The party also alleged that both Ambedkar and the Constitution had faced a “ferocious assault” from the RSS since the early years of the republic.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took to X to commemorate the historic day and revisit Ambedkar’s final speech before he moved the resolution for adopting the Draft Constitution in the Constituent Assembly.
Ramesh noted that “today, exactly 76 years ago, Dr. Ambedkar moved the resolution in the Constituent Assembly for the formal adoption of the Draft Constitution of India.”
Calling it one of the most significant speeches of the 20th century, he said Ambedkar’s words continue to resonate in today’s political climate.
In his closing remarks in 1948, Ambedkar had praised the Congress for ensuring the smooth passage of the Draft Constitution. Ramesh quoted Ambedkar’s original words, emphasising the disciplined nature of the Constituent Assembly under Congress leadership:
“The task of the Drafting Committee would have been a very difficult one if this Constituent Assembly had been merely a motley crowd… This possibility of chaos was reduced to nil by the presence of the Congress Party inside the Assembly which brought into its proceedings a sense of order and discipline.”
Ambedkar had further stated that the drafting panel worked with the confidence that each article and amendment would receive due consideration: “It is because of the discipline of the Congress Party that the Drafting Committee was able to pilot the Constitution… The Congress Party is, therefore, entitled to all the credit for the smooth sailing of the Draft Constitution in the Assembly.”
Ramesh argued that Ambedkar and the Constitution itself were targeted soon after this historic moment.
He claimed, “Dr. Ambedkar and the Constitution that was to be formally adopted a day later were then subject to a ferocious assault by the RSS, an assault that has continued since.”
