In a recent development that has stirred the political landscape of India, Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of Opposition, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has raised eyebrows with his claim regarding the new copies of the Indian Constitution. According to Chowdhury, the copies that were distributed to the Members of Parliament (MPs) in the new Parliament building conspicuously lack the words “socialist” and “secular,” which are integral to India’s preamble.
Chowdhury expressed his concerns, stating, “The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us today (19th September), the one we held in our hands and entered (the new Parliament building), its Preamble doesn’t have the words ‘socialist secular’.” He further elaborated on this in an interview with NDTV, emphasizing the significance of these terms which were incorporated after an amendment in 1976.
The terms ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ hold historical significance in the Indian Constitution. They were introduced into the preamble as a part of the 42nd Amendment in 1976 during the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This information, as highlighted by Livemint, underscores the importance of these terms in the Indian democratic framework.
In response to Chowdhury’s claims, BJP leader and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, clarified that the constitution was originally “like this only” when it was first drafted. His statement, as reported by News18, pointed out that the words “socialist” and “secular” were added later through the 42nd Amendment.
The recent controversy has its roots in the inauguration of the new Parliament building, where MPs were presented with new copies of the Constitution. As originally enacted, the preamble described the state as a “sovereign democratic republic”. The terms “Secular” and “Socialist” were introduced in 1976 during the Emergency through the 42nd Amendment.
The debate surrounding the omission of these words from the new copies of the Constitution underscores the importance of historical context and the ever-evolving nature of political discourse in India.
