RSS leader says words added during Emergency without Parliament’s approval; targets Congress
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has said there should be an open discussion on the inclusion of the words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the preamble of the Constitution. He said these words were not part of the original Constitution and were added during the Emergency without proper approval from Parliament.
Hosabale was speaking at an event in Delhi on Tuesday to mark 50 years since the Emergency. He said,
The words Socialist and Secular were not in the original Constitution. Both Parliament and the judiciary were not working during the Emergency. These words were added at that time. There should be a debate on whether they should stay.
Without naming any leader or party, Hosabale criticised the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. He said the Constitution was misused during the Emergency and the independence of the judiciary was taken away.
The words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were added to the preamble in 1976 through the 42nd Amendment, during the Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. The Emergency lasted for 21 months and ended on March 21, 1977. The BJP calls this period “Constitution Murder Day.”
You can understand the original preamble of the Constitution and the changes made through the 42nd Amendment from the graphics below.
Hosabale says Rahul Gandhi should apologise for actions taken during
Hosabale criticised the Congress and indirectly targeted Rahul Gandhi while speaking at an event marking 50 years of the Emergency. Without naming anyone, he said that more than one lakh people were jailed during the Emergency, over 250 journalists were imprisoned, around 60 lakh people were forcibly sterilised, and the independence of the judiciary was ended.
Hosabale added, “If these actions were carried out by their ancestors, then they should apologise to the nation on their behalf.”
Both words were added in the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976
The words ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were added to the preamble of the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. This amendment was passed during the Emergency (1975–77), when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. These two words were not part of the original preamble.
After the amendment, the preamble began to describe India as a “Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic.”
Meaning of ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’
Socialist: This means working towards economic and social equality. It includes fair distribution of resources and protection of the rights of the poor and weaker sections. In simple terms, India will aim to reduce inequality and ensure justice for all.
Secular: This means the state will treat all religions equally. It will not support or favour any one religion and will remain neutral in matters of faith. In short, India will remain a country where all religions are respected and the government will not interfere in religious matters.
PM Modi calls Emergency a dark chapter in India’s democratic history
On Wednesday, a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi passed a resolution marking 50 years since the Emergency was imposed in India. The meeting also observed two minutes of silence in memory of those who suffered during the Emergency.
In a message, PM Modi wrote that the Emergency was “one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history.” He said that the people of India observe this day as ‘Constitution Murder Day’.
He added, “It is our duty to protect India’s democratic structure and uphold the ideals for which our freedom fighters gave their lives.”
Kharge hits back: BJP had no role in freedom or Constitution-making
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the BJP for repeatedly raising the Emergency issue. He said the BJP had no role in India’s independence or in drafting the Constitution, yet keeps attacking it.
Kharge added that BJP leaders once burned copies of the Constitution and photos of Ambedkar, Nehru, and Gandhi, claiming the Constitution lacked elements of traditional culture like Manusmriti.