NEW DELHI: Congress on Saturday said that institutions have weakened under BJP government as judiciary was not intervening promptly on important matters involving citizens’ rights such as Article 370 , leading to anxiety among citizens.It said that on the issue of Article 370, the Supreme Court has constituted a constitutional bench but has not started the hearing.Addressing a press conference, AICC spokesman Anand Sharma said, “There has been institutional subversion and the institutions which I expected to administer and deliver justice to uphold India’s constitutional democracy and fundamental rights of citizens have been weakened. We have expected throughout that the judiciary of this country, being the custodian of the statute, shall protect its foundational values and citizens’ fundamental rights. There are concerns that timely intervention and delivery is not taking place.”The former Union minister and deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha said, “When serious constitutional matters come up, those should be taken up promptly. You cannot delay issues pertaining to the Constitution by months. We hope that will not happen and the judiciary will rise to the occasion to reassure the citizens that the foundational values of the Indian Constitution shall remain protected and secured.”He said delay in timely intervention on many constitutional matters leads to questions marks in the global community while also disheartening the people it concerns.At the same time, Sharma accused the BJP government of persecuting opposition leaders, referring to the legal troubles of former home minister and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram and of Karnataka leader D K Shivakumar and other opposition leaders. “There can be differences of views but in a democracy, the rights of all citizens which are guaranteed under the Constitution should be protected. These concerns are bonafide concerns,” he said.“Are there two sets of rules and two sets of laws in the Republic of India — one that governs the opposition and one that benefits ruling party leaders,” Sharma asked.