Political appointments on agenda as BJP gears up for Nadda's visit
BJP state president Madan Rathore Wednesday instructed all senior leaders to attend a likely high-level feedback and coordination meeting with Nadda. The agenda, according to party insiders, includes finalising appointments to boards, corporations, and other key posts, many of which have remained vacant since the party returned to power.
This will be Nadda's first visit to Jaipur after the formation of the new govt under chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Dec 2023.
Apart from organisational matters, Nadda is expected to hold a closed-door meeting with CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to review the state govt's performance and political strategy.
"The points of discussion would be govt's performance in the past one-and-a-half years, cabinet expansion, status of flagship schemes, and moves like One State, One Election," said a source.
Nadda is scheduled to land in Jaipur at 12 noon and will proceed directly to a private hotel to attend a special event marking the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar.
Sources reveal that Nadda will not only review pending political appointments but also discuss the state executive's reconstitution. Rathore has reportedly submitted a list of proposed names for induction into the state executive.
The state govt is set to organize a program dedicated to women's empowerment on the occasion of Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. The event, scheduled for May 31, will be attended by national BJP president and union health and family welfare minister JP Nadda.
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The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
A deliberate strategy to usher in a communal order
On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed the foundational character of the Indian Republic by upholding the inclusion of the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Constitution's Preamble. These words, introduced through the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, by the Indira Gandhi-led government during the Emergency, have been the target of repeated political and legal attacks by right-wing forces. Dismissing a batch of petitions challenging these additions, a Bench of the Supreme Court recently upheld the addition of these words, arguing that the mere absence of these terms in the original Preamble adopted on November 26, 1949, cannot invalidate their inclusion. This legal reaffirmation was a powerful signal from the judiciary. But the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological backbone of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), chose to launch a fresh offensive on the very idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution. RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale made a brazen demand: the removal of 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Preamble, which, according to him, were alien to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's constitutional vision. The Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, went a step further, terming the insertion of these words as 'sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatan'. It is no coincidence that these statements are being made from some of the highest offices of the land. This is not an intellectual debate. This is a deliberate political strategy to delegitimise the modern, plural, democratic republic of India and to usher in a communal and hierarchical order. An agenda, from fringe to mainstream When the Constitution was being framed, the Constituent Assembly, emphatically and unanimously, supported the idea of a secular state. Not a single member argued for a theocratic state. The idea of India was built on the foundations of unity in diversity — a rejection of colonial divide-and-rule, of communal politics, and of caste and religious supremacy. Today, the RSS-BJP establishment is working relentlessly to dismantle that consensus and impose the idea of a Hindu Rashtra. This agenda has moved from fringe rhetoric to the political mainstream. On the day of the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a provocative statement equating 'Ram with Rashtra and Dev with Desh'. This kind of fusion of religion and state is exactly what the framers of the Constitution warned against. It is also directly in contradiction to the Supreme Court's ruling that secularism is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution — something that cannot be amended or erased, even by Parliament. Leaders and their warnings The warnings of our national leaders resonate even more forcefully today. In 1931, Mahatma Gandhi, in his resolution on Fundamental Rights, insisted that the state must remain neutral in religious matters. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar too reflected this in the line, 'The State shall not recognise any religion as State religion.' What is particularly instructive,and ironic, is that the Hindu Mahasabha, which boycotted the freedom movement and opposed secular nationalism, included a similar provision in its 1944 Hindustan Free State Act. The Constituent Assembly Debates further highlight the intent of India's founding generation. On August 27, 1947, Govind Ballabh Pant posed a direct question: 'Do you want a real national secular State or a theocratic State?' He warned that if India became a theocracy, it could only be a Hindu state, raising questions about the status and security of those who would be excluded from such a polity. Jaspat Roy Kapoor, on November 21, 1949, noted that Gandhi had made it clear: religion should be a personal matter. On November 22, 1949, Begum Aizaz Rasul called secularism 'the most outstanding feature' of the Constitution and expressed hope that it would remain 'guarded and unsullied'. On October 14, 1949, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel reassured the nation that the Constitution of free India would not be 'disfigured by any provision on a communal basis.' And on November 23, T.J.M. Wilson warned that the clouds threatening India's secular character were already forming. These warnings were not alarmist but were deeply perceptive, and speak with urgency to our times. The present RSS-led campaign is also aimed at discrediting and eliminating the socialist orientation of the Constitution. Dr. Ambedkar, in the Constituent Assembly, clearly noted that the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Part IV of the Constitution were rooted in socialist ideals. The Supreme Court's recent decision, rightly interpreted the term 'socialist' in the Preamble as synonymous with a welfare state. This vision resonates with B.R. Ambedkar's own emphasis on the social and economic transformation of India — an end to caste exploitation, landlessness, poverty, and discrimination. Socialism means creating conditions for equality and justice — not the importation of any foreign ideology, but the realisation of the promises of the freedom struggle. In this regard, B.R. Ambedkar issued perhaps the most unambiguous warning ever — in Pakistan or the Partition of India, he wrote: 'If Hindu Raj does become a fact, it will, no doubt, be the greatest calamity for this country… Hindu Raj must be prevented at any cost.' That cost is now upon us. The RSS's demand to remove the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution is part of a long-term project to dismantle the very edifice of the modern Indian Republic and to institutionalise a new order built on religious supremacy, caste hierarchy, market fundamentalism, and political authoritarianism. The need for resistance This must be resisted — through public awareness, legal challenge, political mobilisation, and mass democratic struggle. The Constitution is not just a legal document. It is a political, social, and moral covenant forged in the crucible of our freedom struggle. It embodies the dreams of countless martyrs, revolutionaries, and constitutionalists who envisioned an India that belonged to all its people. To defend secularism and socialism today is to defend democracy itself. It is to defend the right of every citizen — regardless of faith, caste, class, or gender — to live with dignity, equality, and freedom. The Republic must be protected, nourished, and, if necessary, defended against those who seek to destroy it from within. Let us rise to that responsibility, with courage, with clarity, and with collective resolve. D. Raja is General Secretary, Communist Party of India
India Gazette
31 minutes ago
- India Gazette
PM Modi-led BJP govt provided vaccine to 130 crore Indians: Amit Shah
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 4 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah, praised the PM Modi-led BJP government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting India's achievements in manufacturing vaccines and protecting its citizens. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of Poona Lifespace International in Pune, Shah said, 'When we faced the biggest pandemic of the century, India was one of the first countries to manufacture a vaccine. PM Modi-led BJP government provided vaccine to 130 crore Indians and protected them.' Shah emphasised the importance of societal participation in addressing health issues, saying, 'No matter how much a government does, it cannot manage everything. By the time society takes part in it, health issues don't become a movement, no government can protect all the citizens of the country...' 'Today, I am delighted that at PHRC Life Science Organisation in Pune, people from the Marwadi and Gujarati communities have come together with a vision to start a new direction, a new perspective, and a new era. With this in mind, they have decided to advance medical services, medical education, and medical work on a 14-acre campus with 14 lakh (1.4 million) square feet.', Shah added. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the inauguration ceremony of the Jairaj Sports and Convention Centre, built by the Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj in Pune. He praised the society for creating a modern and beautiful building that represents the Gujarati community in the country. In his address, Shah said, 'I was in Pune for a while during my early life. When I received the invitation, I was curious about it. But it all became clear when I saw your full catalogue along with the invitation,' Shah said. Amit Shah described the building as the 'most beautiful building representing Gujarati society in the entire country.' 'This is the Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj, the most beautiful building representing Gujarati society in the entire country. When I was a minister in the Government of Gujarat, the then Chief Minister and today's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, granted 5 crore for the development of buildings for the Gujarati community,' he added. The centre was constructed through contributions from members over 13 years, from 2012 to 2025, without controversy and with proper guidance. Shah appreciated the society's efforts in building a thoroughly modern structure with a business-oriented perspective, serving various types of enterprises. 'I had a vision in my mind about what the Pune Gujarati Bandhu Society might look like. But when I saw it in person, I realised that this is not just a public institution, it is a thoroughly modern structure built from a business-oriented perspective, serving us and various types of enterprises. I firmly believe that this building reflects the evolving dynamics of the society it represents. From 2012 to 2025, over 13 years, members of the society have come together, contributing according to their capacities. Whether through donations, time, or effort, everything was done without controversy and with proper guidance. That is how such a beautiful building has come into existence,' he said. Shah praised Pune, saying it has been a symbol of knowledge, nationalism, social awareness, and freedom throughout the country. Shah said, 'This city, Punya Nagari, has been a symbol of knowledge, nationalism, social awareness, and freedom throughout the country. It has led from the front at every stage in history. When India fought against the Mughals, it was Shivaji Maharaj who laid the foundation of 'Hindavi Swarajya' from this land. During the British era, it was here that Lokmanya Tilak roared, 'Swaraj is my birthright.' That one sentence became a mantra for youth and ignited the freedom movement across the country. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, we eventually achieved independence. This sacred city has been the birthplace of our Vedas and Upanishads, our literature and arts. At the same time, Maharashtra has also led the way in social reform. Many saints of the Bhakti movement have come from here.' Shah highlighted the significance of Gujarati culture, saying, 'Wherever a Gujarati lives, there will always be Gujarati culture'. 'The Shree Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj of Pune has been an integral part of Maharashtra and Pune since 1913, spanning over 112 years, and has grown in step with the region's progress. After joining the party, I travelled the country for 116 days. During that journey, a journalist in Nagaland asked me, 'Do you still remember Gujarati?' I told him, 'Wherever a Gujarati lives, there will always be Gujarati culture.'' Because wherever Gujaratis go, they are like sugar in a glass of milk; they mix in smoothly, enriching the place. Gujaratis never struggle to move forward; they help the entire region progress.' Earlier, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah arrived in Pune for a two-day visit to Maharashtra. He was welcomed at the Pune airport by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with senior BJP leaders and party workers. The visit is expected to include several high-level meetings, public addresses, and organisational reviews across the state. (ANI)
New Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
No ifs and buts about Constitution's amended preamble
An Emergency-era constitutional amendment inserting a couple of words to the Preamble—socialist and secular—is back in public gaze. That it was flagged by RSS General Secretary Dattatraya Hosabale, a politically savvy leader, made its latest iteration consequential. Emphasising that they were added at a time when the fundamental rights were suspended, parliament was dysfunctional, and the judiciary had become pliant, Hosabale suggested a debate on the Preamble's reset. But that came in the teeth of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion in 2023 that any talk of amending the Constitution was 'meaningless'. Rumours about tinkering with the Constitution through the parliamentary supermajority the BJP sought played its part in opposition consolidation in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It contributed to the BJP's slide, as the party fell short of majority in the Lower House. Yet, when the second-most senior leader in the RSS makes a point, the BJP listens. Soon enough, people holding high offices—Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jitendra Singh—concurred with Hosabale. However, last November, the Supreme Court had thrown out petitions seeking the purge. A bench led by the then Chief Justice, Sanjiv Khanna, ruled that the concept of secularism represents one of the facets of the right to equality. Several landmark Supreme Court verdicts have also upheld secularism as part of the Preamble and the Constitution's basic structure. On socialism, the court said, 'The way we understand socialism in India is very different from other countries. In our context, socialism primarily means a welfare state. That is all.'
