From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take action against BJP’s Uttara Kannada MP Anant Kumar Hegde or he should be permanently disqualified from electoral contests for recklessly talking about changing the Constitution, demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday.

The chief minister, has in a statement to the media, has urged Modi to denounce Hegde’s statement if he does not agree with him and take action immediately or people will believe that BJP subscribes to his anti-Constitutional views.

Siddaramaiah said the Uttara Kannada BJP MP Hegde’s demand that BJP must win 400 seats to change the Constitution if Hindu religion has to be protected. ‘’This is not Hegde’s personal stand but it is the hidden agenda of BJP,’’ he said.

The chief minister said Indian Constitution treats all religions equally and enables all citizens to profess their religion, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. In such a situation, which Hindu religion is sought to be protected or saved by Hegde.

"Evidently, Hegde and BJP want to bring the Manusmriti, which existed in ancient India before Dr B R Ambdekar brought in the present Constitution,’’ he said pointing out that Hegde has been repeatedly talking about changing the Constitution.

Siddaramaiah said the BJP leadership tacitly supports Hegde and has allowed him to speak against the Constitution repeatedly with impunity. The prime minister believes and subscribes to Hegde’s views and has deliberately chosen to remain silent, he said.

The chief minister said the ruling BJP’s MP cannot talk against the Constitution if he does not have the support and backing of Modi. The BJP MP and all other MPs have taken the oath to uphold the Constitution and swear allegiance to it. "Let BJP and Modi prove that they swear to uphold the Constitution and will not allow anybody to speak against the Constitution,’’ he added.