Statute review threatens democracy — Sonia

She also charged BJP with trying to saffronise educational institutions and curricula in the name of rewriting history.

Assailing the Vajpayee government’s decision on Constitution review, she said at a time when the nation was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Constitution, they were "attacking it", which is an insult to Ambedkar and other framers of the Constitution.

"Everybody in the country has equal rights. We will never compromise with the fundamental principles of the Constitution — Sarva Dharma Sadbhav (equal respect for all religions)," Gandhi said adding her party was ready to make any sacrifice to protect the Constitution.

She alleged the BJP was trying to create an atmosphere of confusion and lawlessness for political gains and said Congress would not tolerate any attempt to destroy the constitution framed under the aegis of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and B R Ambedkar.

Sonia Gandhi was also presented with a 13-point proposal passed by the SCs/STs/OBCs convention today relating to their welfare issues.

The proposal includes rejection of Vajpayee Government’s decision to review the Constitution, granting of judicial power to SCs/STs commission, immediate withdrawal of government’s decision to deny reservation in promotions, opposition to privatisation, census should be based on caste lines and safai karmacharis should be named as "health" workers.

Speaking on the occasion, secretary of the AICC’s SCs/STs/OBCs cell Ajit Jogi said these oppressed sections of society would not be silent any more on their rights and would fight for it.

He also pledged these sections would not tolerate any attempt to change the Constitution which has given them every thing – honour, social, economic and political rights guaranteed in the form of fundamental rights.

The Delhi Chief Minister announced a steep enhancement in the scholarship to the SCs/STs/OBCs students on the occasion of Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. Dixit said the scholarships have been raised from Rs 30 to 300, Rs 60 to 500 and Rs 100 to 1,000.

She also announced Delhi government’s decision to convert the Alipur Road house of Ambedkar into a full-fledged memorial.