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News18
29-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Preamble Not Changeable': VP Dhankhar Says Words Added During Emergency A 'Festering Wound'
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar referred to the Preamble as the "seed" from which a Constitution develops Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said the words inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution through an amendment during the Emergency era were a 'festering wound", backing the call by a top RSS leader for a review of the added terms 'secular' and 'socialist'. In the backdrop of the political controversy triggered by RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call for a national discussion on retaining the words 'secular" and 'socialist" in the Preamble, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar asserted that the Preamble is 'sacrosanct" and immutable, stressing that it cannot be changed. Dhankhar said the words inserted in the Preamble in 1976 during the period of Emergency, were a 'nasoor" (festering wound) and could cause upheaval. The changes signalled a betrayal of the 'wisdom" of the framers of the Constitution, he added. He further said the added words were a 'sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatan." 'It is nothing but belittling the civilizational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years," the vice president said at a book launch event in Delhi. Vice President Dhankhar referred to the Preamble as the 'seed" from which a Constitution develops. He also noted that, unlike India, no other country has altered the text of its Constitution's Preamble. 'The Preamble of a Constitution is not changeable. But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976," he said, noting that the words 'socialist", 'secular", and 'integrity" were added. Dhankhar said it was a travesty of justice that something that cannot be changed was altered 'casually, farcically, and with no sense of propriety" and that too during the Emergency when several opposition leaders were in jail. 'And in the process, if you deeply reflect, we are giving wings to existential challenges. These words have been added as nasoor (festering wound). These words will create upheaval," Dhankhar warned. 'We must reflect," he said, adding that Dr BR Ambedkar did painstaking work on the Constitution, and he must have surely focused on it. Political Row The Congress and other opposition parties have strongly criticised the statement made on Thursday by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) second senior-most leader, calling it 'political opportunism" and a 'deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution. The BJP hit back at the Congress by referencing comments made by then-prime minister Indira Gandhi, in which she questioned the usefulness of the Indian Constitution and expressed her intent to change it. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress should not divert from the Emergency-era excesses on people and tender an apology. As the country observed the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, it is imperative to discuss the sufferings the then government inflicted on people so that it is never repeated, he told reporters. He cited media reports of that period, which quoted Indira Gandhi from her press conference and address to convey her critical take on the Constitution. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta also questioned the inclusion of the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, saying such changes should be made through national consensus, not under the 'cover of authoritarianism." Former Union Cabinet Minister Satyanarayan Jatiya said the Preamble reflects the core values of the Constitution, and its sanctity must be preserved. 'No single leader can alter its structure based on personal ambition," he said, accusing the then government of acting in a manner similar to the colonial regime. (With agency inputs) First Published: June 29, 2025, 23:29 IST
Hans India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Preamble sacrosanct, says V-P Dhankhar
New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday asserted the preamble of a constitution is "not changeable" but was changed in India during the Emergency which signals a betrayal of the "wisdom" of the framers of the Constitution. He also said the words inserted in the Preamble in 1976 during the period of Emergency, were a "nasoor" (festering wound) and could cause upheaval. "It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is a sacrilege of the spirit of Sanatan," the vice president said at a book launch event here. Dhankhar described preamble as a "seed" on which a constitution grows. He also underlined that the preamble of no other constitution has undergone change except that of India. "The Preamble of a constitution is not changeable. But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976," he said noting that the words "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" were added.
The Print
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Preamble sacrosanct, words added during Emergency a ‘festering wound', says Dhankhar
'It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is a sacrilege of the spirit of Sanatan,' the vice president said at a book launch event here. He also said the words inserted in the Preamble in 1976 during the period of Emergency, were a 'nasoor' (festering wound) and could cause upheaval. New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday asserted the preamble of a constitution is 'not changeable' but was changed in India during the Emergency which signals a betrayal of the 'wisdom' of the framers of the Constitution. Dhankhar described preamble as a 'seed' on which a constitution grows. He also underlined that the preamble of no other constitution has undergone change except that of India. 'The Preamble of a constitution is not changeable. But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976,' he said noting that the words 'socialist', 'secular', and 'integrity' were added. He said it was a travesty of justice that something that cannot be changed was altered 'casually, farcically, and with no sense of propriety' and that too during Emergency when several opposition leaders were in jail. 'And in the process, if you deeply reflect, we are giving wings to existential challenges. These words have been added as nasoor (festering wound). These words will create upheaval,' Dhankhar cautioned. 'We must reflect,' he said, adding that B R Ambedkar did painstaking work on the Constitution and he must have 'surely focused on it'. His remarks came after the RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Constitution, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar. The Congress and other opposition parties have slammed RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call for a national debate on whether the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' should remain in the Preamble, terming it 'political opportunism' and a 'deliberate assault' on the soul of the Constitution. As Hosabale's strong pitch for a review of the two words inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution during the Emergency days (1975-77) kicked up a political row, an article published in an RSS-linked magazine Organiser said it is not about dismantling the Constitution but about restoring its 'original spirit', free from the 'distortions' of the Congress' Emergency-era policies. Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that 'there is no need for socialism in India' and noted that 'secularism is not the core of our culture'. Another Union minister Jitendra Singh sought to defend the call by the second senior most functionary of the RSS, saying any right-thinking citizen will endorse it because everybody knows that these words were not part of the original Constitution written by Ambedkar. PTI NAB NSD NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Preamble of Constitution ‘not changeable' but was changed during Emergency, claims V-P Dhankhar
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday (June 28, 2025) asserted that the Preamble of a Constitution is "not changeable" as it is the "seed" on which the document grows. He said the preamble of no other Constitution has undergone change except that of India. "But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976," he said noting that the words "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" were added. "We must reflect," he said adding that B.R. Ambedkar did painstaking work on the Constitution and he must have "surely focused on it". RSS calls for review His remarks at a book launch event here came after the RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Constitution, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar. The Congress and other opposition parties have slammed RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call for a national debate on whether the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' should remain in the Preamble, terming it "political opportunism" and a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution. As Mr. Hosabale's strong pitch for a review of the two words inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution during the Emergency days (1975-77) kicked up a political row, an article published in an RSS-linked magazine Organiser said it is not about dismantling the Constitution but about restoring its "original spirit", free from the "distortions" of the Congress' Emergency-era policies. Union Minister Jitendra Singh sought to defend the call by the second senior-most functionary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying any right-thinking citizen will endorse it because everybody knows that these words were not part of the original Constitution written by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
New Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Preamble 'not changeable', but was 'changed' in 1976 during Emergency, says VP Dhankhar
NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday asserted that the Preamble of a constitution is "not changeable" as it is the "seed" on which the document grows. He said the preamble of no other constitution has undergone change except that of India. "But this Preamble was changed by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976," he said noting that the words "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" were added. "We must reflect," he said adding that B R Ambedkar did painstaking work on the Constitution and he must have "surely focused on it". His remarks at a book launch event here came after the RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Constitution, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar.
