Constitution as sacred as Gita, Guru Granth Sahib and Bible: Minister SP Singh Baghel
Kurukshetra: Union minister of state (MoS) for fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying and panchayati raj, SP Singh Baghel, on Wednesday described the Indian Constitution as a sacred text on a par with the sacred Bhagavad Gita, Guru Granth Sahib, and the Bible, emphasising that it must be respected and honoured as the foundation of India's democracy.
Notably, the minister did not make any mention of Quran in his address.
He was speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas 2025 (Constitution Murder Day 2025) at the Panchayat Bhawan auditorium in Kurukshetra.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Baghel said amendments in the Constitution are acceptable if made in the national interest, but any changes made for personal or political gain amount to the murder of the Constitution. He asserted that the
BJP
is committed to protecting the Constitution and upholding democratic values.
Prior to his address, the minister visited an exhibition organised to depict the events surrounding the Emergency imposed in 1975, a period he said was widely viewed as a dark chapter in Indian democracy. During the event, individuals who were jailed during the Emergency and their families were honoured with shawls in recognition of their sacrifices.
Baghel highlighted the symbolic importance of Kurukshetra, calling it the land where the eternal struggle between dharma and adharma, and justice and injustice, was first understood.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Kardiolog prozrazuje: Za velké břicho nemohou kalorie (Dělejte toto jednou denně)
spanekstihly.cz
Dozvědět se víc
Undo
He said this message, rooted in Indian civilisation, has resonated globally. "In every age, injustice has ultimately failed. This lesson must not be forgotten, especially by those who attempt to undermine the Constitution," he remarked.
He also underscored India's democratic heritage, stating, "Our democracy dates to the Dwapar and Treta Yugas. In contrast, the US only has the Statue of Liberty to symbolise its democratic ideals, yet it claims to be the oldest democracy.
Today, India's citizens challenge that claim with pride, as India remains the world's oldest and largest democracy."
The minister took the opportunity to highlight India's progress on gender inclusion in leadership, stating, "India has had two women Presidents, while the US is yet to elect a woman President."
Criticising the 1975 Emergency, Baghel called it the only dark blot on Indian democracy. "It was a time when civil liberties were crushed.
Citizens went into hiding, businesses were shuttered, farmers could not tend to their fields, and anyone seen outside risked being jailed. Around 1.1 lakh people, including journalists, were imprisoned. Electricity supply was cut off, and mass sterilisations were conducted.
None of the conditions required to declare an emergency — external threat, internal disturbance, or financial crisis — existed at the time," he said.
He noted that after the BJP came to power, efforts were made to honour and recognise those who endured suffering during the Emergency, restoring their dignity in the nation's democratic narrative. The event was attended by several BJP leaders from Kurukshetra.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
43 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Shared gajar ka halwa, aam ras with fellow astronauts: Shukla tells PM Modi
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts on the International Space Station relished delicacies such as ' gajar ka halwa ', 'moong dal halwa' and ' aam ras ' as they began their 14-day stay on the orbital shared these details in an 18-minute interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday from the International Space Station that is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400 km."Yes, I brought 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal ka halwa' and 'aam ras'. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian cuisine. All of us had it together and everyone liked it," Shukla told the prime asked Shukla whether he had shared any Indian delicacies with his fellow reached the International Space Station on Thursday along with three other astronauts as part of the commercial Axiom-4 mission for a 14-day stay during which the crew will be part of a series of science reaching the orbital lab on Thursday, Shukla and the three astronauts spent the day settling in and setting up their sleeping Peggy Whitson is located in the Airlock, Shukla in Dragon, Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski in Columbus, and Tibor Kapu in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).They completed handover activities with the Expedition 73 crew and began acclimating to life in operational tasks were also completed, including unpacking cargo in Dragon and reviewing emergency the interaction, Shukla briefed the prime minister about various experiments being done in to how space differs from Earth, Shukla explained that everything in space feels different from the training on the ground. He added that his feet were tied while speaking to Prime Minister Modi; otherwise, he would start said simple acts like drinking water or sleeping become significant challenges in space. Shukla explained that one can sleep on the ceiling, on the walls, or wherever, since orientation becomes fluid."Adjusting to this altered environment takes a day or two, but the experience is a beautiful harmony of science and wonder," he said.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Policy of forbearance over, terrorists will be hit hard: Def secy on India's new normal
New Delhi: Underlining the country's "new normal" in dealing with terrorism, Defence Secretary R K Singh on Saturday said the "policy of forbearance that was practised for decades" is over and terrorists will be hit hard, at a time and place of India's choosing. During an interaction at an event here, Singh also said Pakistan "treats them (terrorists) as their assets" and mourns for them when they are hit -- a reference to the presence of many Pakistani army personnel at a funeral of some of those killed in strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor . "It confirms and validates our assessment all along that these people are deliberately cultivated for cross-border terrorism in India, as an instrument of state policy," Singh said. The defence secretary was asked about the sequence of events during the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan that was eventually halted after the two sides arrived at an understanding on May 10, leading to a cessation of hostilities. The Pakistani military side came forward on May 9, "asking for a call from the DGMO, which they had earlier refused even to take", Singh said, in response to a query. Live Events "And it was clear at that stage that they were in the process of capitulating essentially. And this was in the morning of May 9. So even before the announcement was made (on May 10), we all knew that this was going to happen. And this is what happened. The DGMO spoke and they essentially asked for a ceasefire," he added. The defence secretary was speaking at a session hosted at the "CNN News 18 Town Hall: The Defence Edition". India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack and conducted precision strikes on several terror-infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Pakistani military, in retaliation, targeted Indian military installations and civilian areas, with India conducting counter-offensives against it and damaging several key air bases in the neighbouring country, including the Noor Khan and Rahim Yar Khan bases. The precision strikes on nine locations on May 7 "killed, to our assessment, almost 100 terrorists and their followers, whether some of the people had left (the buildings) is a different matter", Singh said. Besides hitting them in terms of casualty, the intent was to demolish their headquarters, send a message to those terror outfits who have a long lineage in terms of terror activities in India, he said. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has been decided that people will "no longer allow them (terrorists) necessarily to choose the time and place", Singh said. "Yes, they will have their element of surprise always -- in terms of hitting, finding some innocent targets, soft targets. The intent is that thereafter, they should know that we will respond, but they should not know how and the time and place (of the response)," the defence secretary added. "And the nuclear umbrella is not going to deter us," he emphasised. There will be a "policy of zero tolerance", the hits will be on the headquarters and the leaders, not only on the foot soldiers. This is the "new normal" that the prime minister has made very clear and in the future, therefore, "the element of surprise will not only be with them, it will be with us also", Singh said. "We will sort of decide the script of what ensues thereafter once they try to hit some soft targets in India," he warned. "That expectation.... That the policy of forbearance that was practised for decades, the new normal is that the forbearance is over, we will hit them hard, at a time and place of our own choosing. And the level of escalation will be determined by our leadership. And it will definitely not be turning the other cheek," Singh said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"India Looks Very Grand, Very Big From Space": Shubhanshu Shukla To PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). The nearly 18-minute dialogue between PM Modi and the 39-year-old Indian astronaut, who is the second Indian to go to space in 41 years and the first since Rakesh Sharma's eight-day sojourn in 1984, was rich in emotion, science, and national pride. Expressing the collective pride of 140 crore Indians, PM Modi told the Indian astronaut: "Today you are farthest from your motherland but you are closest to the hearts of Indians." He congratulated Mr Shukla on his successful mission and asked about his well-being. Mr Shukla, visibly moved, responded with gratitude, affirming that he was safe and feeling well, crediting it to the blessings and support of the nation. The astronaut described his journey to the ISS as not just a personal achievement but a symbolic leap for the entire country. "This small journey from Earth to 400 kilometres above is not only mine - it is the journey of our country," he said. Reflecting on his childhood, he shared that he never imagined becoming an astronaut, but under the current leadership, India now offers such dreams a chance to become reality. In a lighter moment, PM Modi asked if Mr Shukla had shared Indian food with his international colleagues. In response, Mr Shukla said he had brought carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango juice, which were well received by his fellow astronauts. "Everyone liked it very much," he said, adding that they hoped to visit India one day to experience its culinary richness firsthand. The conversation then turned philosophical as PM Modi remarked on the ancient Indian tradition of undertaking a "parikrama", with Mr Shukla actually doing a circumambulation or orbiting the Earth. The Prime Minister asked what part of the planet Mr Shukla was currently passing over. Though the astronaut didn't have the exact coordinates, he said a little while ago they had passed over Hawaii. He described the awe-inspiring experience of orbiting the Earth 16 times a day, witnessing as many sunrises and sunsets. Traveling at 28,000 kilometres per hour, he noted, adding with a tinge of national pride, suggesting "this speed shows how fast our country is moving forward". When asked about his first thoughts upon being in space, Mr Shukla shared a profound realisation: "From space, you don't see any borders. The Earth looks united." He emphasised the vastness of India, which appears much larger from orbit than on a map, and spoke of the deep sense of unity and shared humanity that space evokes. "Jab pehli baar Bharat ko dekha, Bharat sach mein bohat bhavya dikta hain, jitna ham map pe dekhten hain, usse kahin jyada bada (When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map)," Mr Shukla told the Prime Minister, bringing back memories of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's "saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara" remark in 1984 when PM Indira Gandhi had asked him how India looks from space. PM Modi then enquired about the challenges of adapting to life in microgravity. Mr Shukla explained that despite extensive training, the real experience was vastly different. "Even small tasks become difficult," he said, noting that he had to tie his feet to stay in place during the conversation. Sleeping, drinking water, and even moving around required new techniques. "It takes a day or two to get used to it," he added. He showed how the microphone was floating away from him as he spoke. The Prime Minister highlighted India's unique blend of science and spirituality, asking whether mindfulness and meditation helped in space. Mr Shukla affirmed that they played a crucial role in managing stress and making sound decisions. "The calmer you are, the better you can make decisions," he said, advocating for the integration of mindfulness in high-stress environments like space missions. On the scientific front, Mr Shukla proudly revealed that he was conducting seven Indian-designed experiments aboard the ISS. The first, scheduled for today, involved stem cells and aimed to understand muscle loss in microgravity - a study with potential applications for elderly care on Earth. Another experiment focused on the growth of microalgae, which could contribute to food security due to their high nutritional value and rapid growth in space. PM Modi praised the scientific ambition of the mission and noted how Chandrayaan's success had already sparked a wave of interest in space among Indian youth. He said Mr Shukla's journey would further fuel that passion. Mr Shukla, in turn, encouraged young Indians to dream big and persevere. "There is no one way to success," he said. "But one thing is common-never stop trying." As the conversation neared its end, PM Modi gave Mr Shukla some "homework": to document his experiences for the benefit of future missions, including Gaganyaan, which is India's upcoming human spaceflight program and the Bhartiya Antariksha Station and to send an Indian to the Moon. Mr Shukla agreed, saying he was absorbing every lesson "like a sponge" and would apply them to accelerate India's space ambitions. In a deeply emotional closing, Mr Shukla reflected on the collective achievement of the mission. "This is not just my personal accomplishment-it is a collective achievement for our country," he said. He urged every child and youth to believe that "the sky is never the limit". He also revealed that the Indian flag now proudly adorned the ISS, a moment that filled him with immense pride. PM Modi ended the conversation by extending his best wishes to Mr Shukla and his team. "Take care of yourself. Keep increasing the respect for Mother India," he said. Mr Shukla responded with a heartfelt "Bharat Mata ki jai," echoing the sentiment of a nation that now sees its dreams orbiting the Earth.
