Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha vows to repeal sedition law

BENGALURU: Presidential candidate backed by opposition parties Yashwant Sinha, confirmed here on Sunday that India needs a 'Rashtrapati' who acts as an impartial guardian of the Constitution, not a silent rubber stamp -- and vowed to work to repeal the British Raj's Sedition Act.

The senior leader, who took four more oaths, urged his rival BJP-led NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu to make a similar announcement. Speaking to the media after attending the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting at a hotel led by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, Sinha lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.

"In the past eight years, the ruling dispensation has launched repeated assaults on democracy and secularism, which form the founding principles of our Republic. It has unleashed poisonous communal propaganda," he alleged, the NIE reported.

He welcomed the Supreme Court's charge sheet against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her reference to Prophet Muhammad, he regretted that the same BJP supporters who were happy with the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue are now trolling the Supreme Court.

"I fully endorse the view and congratulate CJI NV Ramana for this forthright affirmation. Indeed, I have been saying, since I filed my nomination papers on June 27, that the sole purpose behind my acceptance of the combined Opposition's offer to be their candidate is to safeguard the Constitution and its lofty values, which are today under unprecedented threat," he said.

He read out his pledges, including that he would stop the Center from aiding and abetting anti-democratic measures like 'Operation Kamal' in any way. "I shall speak out against attempts to polarize India. I shall defend the Freedom of Press, Speech and other rights and freedoms the Constitution grants (with reasonable restrictions) to citizens, regardless of their religion or ideology," he stated.