'Modi govt not abiding by basic principles of Constitution'

Kolkata: State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim on Wednesday took potshots at the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for not abiding by the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Hakim was addressing the Assembly on the second and final day of Constitution Day celebration, on Wednesday. He said that the Preamble to the Constitution says that people in the country are entitled to get social, economic and political justice, but the people in the country have been deprived of the same.

"Are the people in the country getting social, economic and political justice? People have been denied their rights which the Constitution has provided them. People have lost their freedom of expression. If anybody raises a question against the Centre, various Central agencies are being asked to harass them. Does our Constitution allow the Centre to do so?" Hakim said.

He also pointed out that the liberty of thought, expression and worship have been enshrined in the Constitution, but people across the country are having to compromise their rights in this regard.

"Freedom of expression and liberty of thought are only followed in a state like Bengal. Incidents of lynching are often being reported from various states. People belonging to a particular community are often attacked in some states. Are our Constitutional rights being upheld in this manner? Our constitution talks about the integrity of the nation. Is it the principle followed by the ruling party at the Centre? Is our Constitution being properly respected when people are butchered in some parts of the country?" the irate minister questioned.