AICC Secretary in-charge for Nagaland, Christopher Tilak on Saturday sounded a clear warning about the erosion of constitutional values under the current regime and calling upon citizens—especially the youth—to protect the soul of the nation.

“Why are we suddenly talking about saving the Constitution after 75 years of independence?” Tilak asked. “Because in the past decade, the very foundations of our Constitution—secularism, equality, justice—have come under direct threat.”

Speaking at the Sanvidhan Bachao Andolan at Dimapur Town Hall, Tilak lamented that when the Congress was in power for decades, there was little public anxiety about the Constitution.

However, under the current BJP-led central government, he said, discussions around secularism, inclusiveness, and constitutional rights have become unavoidable due to rising authoritarian tendencies.

Quoting a verse read by a pastor during the invocation, he said, “When the righteous are in power, the people rejoice,” Tilak added, “Today, the people are anxious, not at peace, because the right leadership is missing. Our rights do not come from any party but from the Constitution itself.”

Calling the Constitution the “Bible of every citizen,” Tilak suggested that the Preamble—which enshrines the core values of liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice—should be printed on the back of every event invitation and read regularly to remind people of their democratic responsibilities.

“These values are not just political—they are biblical, spiritual, and were echoed by Buddha more than 2,000 years ago,” he emphasized.

Tracing the origin of the Indian Constitution, Tilak paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. BR Ambedkar as the ideological and moral architects of modern India.

“Gandhi made Congress a people’s movement, bringing in the marginalized. Ambedkar, after returning from abroad, travelled the country and exposed caste-based oppression. Their ideas were synthesized over 25 years of interaction,” he said.

Post-Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru carried forward this vision into governance, building modern India on the principles laid out in the Constitution, he said.

He pointed out how Ambedkar, despite his differences with the Congress, chose to work with the party to draft a Constitution that could unify a nation with 5,000 castes, 300 languages, over 200 tribes in the Northeast alone, and half a dozen religions.

“Such diversity does not exist anywhere else in the world—not even in Europe,” Tilak noted.

Tilak accused the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, of systematically undermining the Constitution. “They are not doing this out of ignorance, but because they fully understand the inclusive power of this document and want to replace it with a majoritarian narrative,” he alleged.

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He highlighted the current government’s hesitation on the caste census as a reflection of its discomfort with the idea of social justice—a principle the Constitution boldly championed decades ago despite being written by a Constituent Assembly dominated by upper castes.

Citing the special constitutional provisions for Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura, he warned that dismantling the Constitution would have severe consequences for the tribals, Dalits, minorities, and all marginalized communities.

“If not for this Constitution and the inclusive vision of Gandhi and Ambedkar, people of the Northeast would have been completely bulldozed and sidelined,” he said.

Tilak expressed hope upon seeing a large presence of youth at the event. “It is you who must speak out now—about equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice. Don’t take democracy for granted.”

Using a metaphor, he likened the Congress to electricity. “When there is electricity, you don’t notice it. But the moment it goes, everyone feels the discomfort. In the same way, when Congress was in power, life was stable. But now people are waking up to what they’ve lost.”

He concluded by urging people to stay vigilant and speak loudly in defence of constitutional values.

Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President and Member of Parliament, S Supongmeren Jamir, delivered a scathing critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Addressing a diverse gathering of political workers, civil society members, and youth, Jamir called for vigilance and resistance to what he termed as “a calculated assault on the Indian Constitution and the secular fabric of the nation.”

Jamir urged citizens to understand the origins, purpose, and protective value of the Constitution. “We are here not just as Congress workers but as defenders of democracy and secularism,” he said. “We must remind ourselves why our Constitution was written and how it protects every citizen, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.”

He accused the BJP of harboring ambitions to amend the Constitution, pointing to their pre-election claim that securing over 400 Lok Sabha seats would give them the mandate to alter foundational principles. “Their intent is not hidden. Their goal is to reshape the Constitution in line with the RSS ideology, which is deeply rooted in the idea of a Hindu nation,” Jamir alleged.

Jamir also expressed concern over the manipulation of the media and law enforcement agencies. “Even journalists are being silenced or punished for reporting the truth,” he said.

Highlighting the impact on Nagaland and other minority communities, he said, “Many in our society believe that what’s happening in the mainland won’t affect us. But that’s a dangerous assumption. More than 1,000 RSS members are expected to come to Nagaland. Their influence is already creeping into our families, institutions, and minds.”

Apok Jamir, Working President of NPCC and chairperson of the programme, also addressed the gathering and echoed similar concerns. The event was attended by various party leaders, civil society members, and concerned citizens