Devotees gather to take holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of 'Mauni Amavasya', during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.Photo: PTI Devotees gather to take holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of 'Mauni Amavasya', during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.Photo: PTI

Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of planning a Constitution based on the ancient text Manusmriti, claiming a deliberate conspiracy to marginalise Dalits and OBCs in India. 

His remarks followed an event at the Maha Kumbh, where the Sanatan Dharma Sansad raised the demand for a ‘‘Hindu Rashtra” and unveiled a controversial draft for a new Constitution.

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The event was marked by discussions on the potential creation of a new constitutional framework inspired by Hindu scriptures, with prominent saints proposing a draft that critics have warned could undermine the current secular and inclusive principles of the Indian Constitution.

During the event, spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur Maharaj revealed plans to create a “Sanatani Hindu Board,” which would push for the implementation of a new Constitution that, according to its backers, would guide India toward becoming a “Hindu Rashtra.”

Thakur, who led the Sansad, expressed his intentions to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present the proposal, saying, “We have prepared a proposal for the Sanatani Hindu Board Act, and all religious leaders present here have agreed to it. We hope the government will take it seriously, just as it has done with the Waqf Board for Muslims.”

The 501-page document has been crafted by the Hindu Rashtra Samvidhan Nirmal Samiti, a 25-member committee of scholars from renowned institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Central Sanskrit University. 

Thakur announced that the draft had been finalised and would be sent to the Indian government on February 2, the occasion of Basant Panchami. The document draws from the teachings of the Ramayana, Manusmriti, Chanakya's Arthashastra, and other Hindu scriptures.

Congress leader Udit Raj slams BJP over ‘Hindu Rashtra’ agenda

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Udit Raj expressed outrage, criticising the BJP for spending vast sums of money and allowing religious leaders to propagate what he described as a “Hindu Rashtra agenda.” 

“If Sanatan talks about the Varna system, is it fine? The Maha Kumbh is being organised by the government, with thousands of crores being spent there. A few saints are making statements against the Constitution and pushing for a draft to establish a Hindu Rashtra. Is that a place of faith or a centre of conspiracy against Dalits and OBCs?” Raj demanded.

He further criticised the BJP for not addressing the issue, stating, “The BJP should speak out about preparing a Constitution based on Manusmriti. They are doing this under a conspiracy to enslave Dalits and backwards.”

What does the draft constitution propose?

The proposed Constitution of the “Akhand Hindu Rashtra” includes provisions such as mandatory military education for all citizens, harsher punishments for anti-national activities, and the establishment of a unicameral legislature called the Hindu Dharma Parliament. Only those belonging to Sanatan Dharma would be eligible to contest elections, and the minimum voting age would be set at 16. According to the proposal, the Rashtradhyaksh, or head of the state, would be elected by three-fourths of the legislature.

The Telegraph quoted Swami Anand Swaroop Maharaj, the patron of the committee behind the document, who emphasised that the proposed Constitution was not anti-other religions, but would ensure more severe punishments for those deemed “anti-national.” 

He further argued that while the Indian Constitution had been amended over 300 times, the principles of Hindu scriptures had remained unchanged for centuries, thus legitimising the need for a Hindu-centric national framework.

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Critics of the proposal, including Raj, have warned that such a move would undermine India’s secular foundations and disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly Dalits and OBCs. Raj's accusations reflect growing concerns over the implications of a Hindu Rashtra, with critics fearing it could sideline India's religious diversity and social equality.

While the BJP has not officially responded to Raj's claims, the ongoing debate surrounding the Maha Kumbh event and the push for a new Constitution continues to intensify, with political and religious leaders across India weighing in on the proposal’s potential impact on the nation’s future.

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