Whispers end. Preamble is now under attack

NT Correspondent

New Delhi

In a move that has reignited fears of ideological meddling with India’s foundational values, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Thursday made a direct call to remove the words “secular” and “socialist” from the Preamble of the Constitution.

With this, the ideological parent of the ruling BJP has laid bare its intent to redefine the spirit of the Republic, triggering concerns among constitutional scholars and opposition parties who view it as a brazen attempt to rewrite the very essence of Indian democracy.

RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale made a strong pitch for the removal of two words -- socialist and secular -- from the preamble of the Constitution, which were inserted by the erstwhile Congress government during Emergency.

Hosabale said insertion of the two words into the Preamble needs to be revisited.

“Freedom of judiciary was also curtailed … but one more thing, during the Emergency, two words were added to the Preamble to India’s Constitution. We all know: secularism and socialism. These were not in the Preamble earlier. They were added later. The Preamble is meant to be eternal.” “The word secularism was not originally in the Indian Constitution. It was added to the Preamble.

Yes, the ideas of secularism may have existed, they may have been part of governance and state policy, that’s a different matter. But should these two words remain in the Preamble? This is something that deserves reflection,” Hosabale said as quoted by The Print. Adding, “Because I know, and I’m saying this while standing in the building named after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, that these words were not included by him.” He went on to say, “When you discuss the Constitution, it is not just about Babasaheb Ambedkar.

There are also aspects that were not part of what Ambedkar had framed.” Hosabale emphasised that the changes were made at a time when democratic institutions were severely weakened. “… when citizens’ rights were suspended, when Parliament was ineffective, when the judiciary was crippled, at that time, this was inserted.”