Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday cited Hindutva idealogue VD Savarkar's criticism of the Constitution that there was “nothing Indian about it” to attack the BJP and said the ruling party is “defaming and ridiculing” its own “supreme leader” when it talks about protecting the Constitution.

The BJP and the RSS are “supporters of Manusmriti” but the country will be run on the Constitution, Gandhi said. Drawing a parallel with the story of Eklavya who had to chop off his thumb as “Guru Dakshina” to Dronacharya, Gandhi alleged that by creation of “monopolies” for the Adani Group in various sectors, bringing in the Agnipath scheme, firing teargas at protesting farmers, bringing in lateral entry and allowing paper leaks, the government was “chopping off” the thumb of the youth, tillers, backward class people and the poor.