Congress president Sonia Gandhi said on the eve of the 71st Republic Day that ordinary citizens felt that constitutional values were not safe under the Narendra Modi government and called upon the country to rise against lurking threats.

Sonia said in a statement: “It is true that there is a conspiracy to attack our Constitution today. Constitutional principles are under systematic attack and constitutional institutions are being sacrificed at the altar of authoritarianism. In these times, it is the duty of every citizen to unite to save the Constitution.”

She argued that the conspiracy to divide people on the basis of religion, region and language was hatched to divert attention from economic mismanagement, inflation and unemployment. “An unprecedented atmosphere of insecurity, fear and violence was being created. Let us resolve to rebuild our nation by rising above personal interests and political lust. True commitment to constitutionalism and patriotism is to strengthen the unity and security of the country,” she added.