Pawan Kalyan Says Dharma, Constitution Are "Same", Congress Responds

A political storm has erupted after Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan equated Dharma with the Indian Constitution during his address at the Sri Krishna Mutt in Karnataka's Udupi.

Speaking at the Geetha Utsava event, Kalyan said Dharma and the Constitution are complementary. "In the original handwritten Constitution of India, the very document that defines our republic, the page listing the directive principles of State policy is decorated with the Majestic sketch of Lord Sri Krishna imparting the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Our Constitution makers intentionally placed this illustration day because the directive principles described the moral vision of the nation, justice, welfare, responsibility, equality and righteous governance," he said. 

"What better symbolises these ideals than Sri Krishna guiding Arjuna and the path of Dharma. Some think Dharma and Constitution are two different worlds, but they're not. Dharma is a moral compass and the Constitution is a legal compass. These two are complementary and both aim for the same direction, for a just, peaceful and compassionate society," Kalyan said. 

His comments, however, drew sharp criticism from Congress.

Senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad slammed the actor-politician, saying celebrities who don't understand the Constitution make such statements.

"The Constitution is secular; there is no place for Dharma in it," he said.

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised Kalyan, saying he lacks understanding of both the law and Dharma.

"The Constitution and Dharma cannot be the same," Kharge remarked.

Kalyan's NDA ally, the BJP, backed him.

"What Pawan said is right. The principles are the same," Mahesh Tenginkai said.