Will amend Constitution if elected with two-third majority: BJP MP

Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde demanded voters to give his party a two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha so that Consitution could be amended to undo certain laws that subjugate the Hindu community, The Indian Express reported.

Speaking at an event in Uttar Kannada's Siddapur, he stirred a controversy with his remarks and claimed that Congress fundamentally altered the Constitution to subjugate Hindus. And if that needed to be changed, a two-thirds majority is needed, he said.

He said that the BJP needed to be in power in more than 20 states to make these changes. He pointed out that if the party win 400 seats as per the slogan of BJP, said 'Ab ki baar 400 paar' [This time, it will be above 400 seats]/, the party will have a majority in more than 20 states.

He said that if the party have a two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state governments, "then see how things will be" The Hindu quoted the saffron party leader from Karnataka. He reminded that the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed in Parliament but couldn't be implemented because many states disapprove. Now, the Centre is planning to implement it through an amendment.

Following the MP's controversial statements, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called for his disqualification, condemning the statements.

If Modi disagrees with Hegde's opinions, he should first expel him from the party. Failing to act against Hegde suggests the Prime Minister's implicit agreement. It seems Modi's public declarations of allegiance to the Constitution are merely superficial," Siddaramaiah commented.

The Congress party criticised the statements, with Rahul Gandhi reacting that it is a public declaration of the "hidden intentions of Narendra Modi and his 'Sangh Parivar'", Scroll.in quoted him.

Meanwhile, BJP leadership that the statements by the MP are his personal views and not the party's.