Latest news with #Ambedkar
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
‘Assault on soul of Constitution': Oppn slams RSS' view on Preamble
New Delhi: Several Opposition parties on Friday denounced RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call to review the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, terming it a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution. The attack came a day after the RSS proposed reviewing the two words, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. While the Congress saw it as a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution and claimed the RSS-BJP had never accepted Ambedkar's Constitution, the CPI(M) said the demand exposes the RSS' long-standing objective of subverting it. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the mask of the RSS has come off again as they want 'Manusmriti'. CPI(M) leader and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Hosabale's call is a "brazen attempt to dismantle the core ideals of our Republic". "Invoking the Emergency to discredit these principles is a deceitful move, especially when the RSS colluded with the Indira Gandhi government during that time for its own survival. To use that period now to undermine the Constitution reflects sheer hypocrisy and political opportunism. "Secularism and socialism are not additions; they define India. Every citizen who believes in democracy must raise their voice against this communal agenda," Vijayan said on X. The Left parties and RJD alleged that Hosabale's proposal was part of a conspiracy to change the Constitution. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the BJP/RSS attacked Ambedkar, Nehru, and others involved in the framing of the Constitution from November 30, 1949, onwards. "The RSS and the BJP have repeatedly given the call for a new Constitution. "This was Modi's campaign cry during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The people of India decisively rejected this cry. Yet the demands for changing the basic structure of the Constitution continue to be made by the RSS ecosystem," Ramesh said. The Chief Justice of India himself delivered a judgment on November 25, 2024, on the issue now being raised by a leading RSS functionary, he said. "Would it be asking too much to request him to take the trouble to read it?" Ramesh said. He also shared on X a copy of the judgement.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Judicial activism shouldn't turn into judicial terrorism or adventurism: CJI Gavai
1 2 3 Nagpur: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Thursday cautioned against judicial overreach, stressing that though judicial activism is bound to stay, but it should not be allowed to turn into judicial adventurism or judicial terrorism. Speaking at a grand felicitation by the District Bar Association (DBA) on the premises of the District and Sessions Court in Nagpur, Gavai emphasised the importance of maintaining constitutional boundaries between the three organs of democracy. "Every institution must function within the limits drawn by the Constitution. Parliament frames laws, the executive implements them, and the judiciary ensures they comply with constitutional principles. When the Parliament or assemblies enact laws that violate the Constitution of India, the judiciary can step in. But if the judiciary tries to interfere unnecessarily in the functioning of the other two pillars, that must be avoided," he said. The event was graced by Supreme Court justices Dipankar Datta, Prasanna Varale, and Atul Chandurkar, along with Bombay high court chief justice Alok Aradhe, senior administrative judge of Nagpur bench Nitin Sambre, senior judge Anil Kilor, and others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Justice Gavai's mother Kamaltai and wife Tejaswini also shared the dais. Recalling several milestones of his career, Gavai recounted his early reluctance to practise law and how the teachings of Dr BR Ambedkar and his father RS Gavai, a stalwart in social and political spheres, shaped his life. "From my childhood, I was exposed to Dr Ambedkar's ideals. My father would often say that one day his son would be the CJI, but sadly, he isn't here to see it. I am grateful that my mother is alive to witness this moment," he said emotionally. Paying rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar, he called the Indian Constitution a unique document. "It ensures social, financial, and political justice, along with liberty of thought and equality. I have always said that whatever I am today, it is because of the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar's vision," he said. Gavai also recalled unveiling Dr Ambedkar's statue and portrait at the Nagpur bench when he was the administrative judge. "But more than his portrait, what we need are his thoughts. They must guide us," he remarked. Describing the Nagpur bar as a secular and inclusive institution, he lauded DBA for never discriminating on the basis of caste and religion. He congratulated DBA secretary Manish Randive, and president Roshan Bagade, recalling how the latter became the association's first backward-class president. "Many small communities have produced lawyers today. I'm proud to be a member of this bar," he said. Gavai revisited significant cases, including a PIL he filed on behalf of a student from the Mehtar community in 1985, which led to a landmark high court decision allowing the student's admission — a moment he termed more satisfying than any financial gain. He also recalled being part of a plea that saved lakhs of slum dwellers from eviction in Mumbai after securing a stay in the Supreme Court within eight days. Highlighting the judiciary's constructive role, he credited public interest litigations (PILs) at the Nagpur bench for facilitating the new district court building and helping regulate slum settlements on zudpi jungle lands, safeguarding the right to livelihood. "Directive Principles and Fundamental Rights were carefully considered in these decisions," he noted. Gavai also fondly remembered his days as a DBA member, sharing anecdotes with justice Sambre and others during bar elections. He acknowledged legal luminaries from Nagpur like ex CJI Mohammed Hidayatullah, Bhausaheb Bobde, and VR Manohar, calling them 'legal eagles' and 'gifts from Nagpur to the judiciary'. "Like justice Datta said, my natural choice should be politics, but it was till 1990 before I decided to take up the legal profession," he said. "My father once told me, 'You can earn money as a lawyer, but as a judge, you can fulfill Babasaheb Ambedkar's dream of social and economic upliftment'," said the CJI, reflecting on his journey. Gavai, who credits his late father, veteran leader Dadasaheb Gavai, for shaping his path, also acknowledged the personal cost of his public role.
Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Assault on Constitution's soul: Opposition slams RSS' view on Preamble
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale Several opposition parties on Friday denounced RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call to review the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, terming it a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution. The attack came a day after the RSS proposed reviewing the two words, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. While the Congress saw it as a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution and claimed the RSS-BJP had never accepted Ambedkar's Constitution, the CPI(M) said the demand exposes the RSS' long-standing objective of subverting leader Rahul Gandhi said the mask of the RSS has come off again as they want 'Manusmriti'. "The Constitution irks them because it speaks of equality, secularism, and justice," he said in a post in Hindi on X."The RSS-BJP doesn't want the Constitution; they want 'Manusmriti'. They aim to strip the marginalized and the poor of their rights and enslave them again. Snatching a powerful weapon like the Constitution from them is their real agenda," he alleged. "The RSS should stop dreaming... we will never let them succeed. Every patriotic Indian will defend the Constitution until their last breath," the former Congress chief leader and Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Hosabale's call is a "brazen attempt to dismantle the core ideals of our Republic"."Invoking the Emergency to discredit these principles is a deceitful move, especially when the RSS colluded with the Indira Gandhi government during that time for its own survival. To use that period now to undermine the Constitution reflects sheer hypocrisy and political opportunism."Secularism and socialism are not additions; they define India. Every citizen who believes in democracy must raise their voice against this communal agenda," Vijayan said on Left parties and RJD alleged that Hosabale's proposal was part of a conspiracy to change the general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the BJP/RSS attacked Ambedkar, Nehru, and others involved in the framing of the Constitution from November 30, 1949, onwards. "In the RSS' own words, the Constitution was not inspired by Manusmriti," he said in a post on X."The RSS and the BJP have repeatedly given the call for a new Constitution. This was Mr (Narendra) Modi's campaign cry during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The people of India decisively rejected this cry. Yet the demands for changing the basic structure of the Constitution continue to be made by the RSS ecosystem," Ramesh said. Sharing the Supreme Court's November 25, 2024, judgment on the issue, he said, "Would it be asking too much to request him to take the trouble to read it?" In a post on X from its official handle, the Congress alleged the RSS-BJP's ideology stands in direct opposition to the Indian Constitution."RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has openly called for the removal of the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble. This is not just a suggestion -- it is a deliberate assault on the soul of our Constitution," it said."It is part of a long-standing conspiracy to dismantle Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision for a just, inclusive and democratic India -- something the RSS-BJP has always been plotting. Let us not forget: when the Constitution was adopted, the RSS rejected it. They didn't just oppose it, they burnt it." The Congress said the people saw through their agenda and gave them a resounding answer."Now, they have returned to their old playbook. But let it be known: The Congress will stand as an unbreakable wall against any attempt to undermine the Constitution. Jai Samvidhan," it General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal mounted a scathing attack on the RSS and the BJP, saying, "The RSS' single-minded focus to destroy the Constitution is never hidden for too long. Beyond the BJP's lip service to the Constitution, their hidden agenda has always been to distort and destroy our Constitution -- because it stands against the core fascist beliefs of the RSS-BJP." "A senior RSS member surely knows that the Supreme Court declared socialism and secularism to be part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Yet, to take this stand is a clear insult to the Constitution, a rejection of its values, and a direct attack on the Supreme Court of India as well," he said on X. The MP from Kerala's Alappuzha added that the people of India were very much aware of the "devious means deployed by the RSS to spread poison and divide this country". "We will never let them succeed in this mission, and will defend the Constitution to the hilt," he stressed. Congress deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said, "Once again, the truth slipped out. The hidden agenda of the BJP and RSS is now out in the open. They want to remove the core values of secularism and socialism from the Constitution." The BJP hit back at the Congress, accusing it of being behind all the violations of India's Constitution since Independence and asked the party to apologise for its Emergency-era atrocities on people instead of resorting to issue before the country is the violation of people's fundamental rights by the Congress government during the Emergency, said BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu other opposition parties, RJD president Lalu Prasad, who claimed that social justice and communal harmony are his guiding principles, voiced his anguish on X by terming the RSS a "casteist" RJD supremo also said, "They do not have the guts to cast an evil eye on the Constitution and reservations provided therein. Why are people with an unjust character so full of hatred for democracy and Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution?" Party MP Manoj Kumar Jha said, "Perhaps he (Hosabale) hasn't read it; I would advise him to seriously read the Constituent Assembly debates. Socialism and secularism were integral parts of our Constitution." In a statement, the CPI(M) Politburo said the inclusion of 'socialism' and 'secularism' in the Preamble is not an arbitrary addition and reflects the core values for which freedom fighters sacrificed their lives. "The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly denounces the proposal made by the RSS general secretary to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. This proposal exposes the RSS's long-standing objective of subverting the Constitution and its intent to transform India into a Hindu Rashtra, in pursuit of its Hindutva project." "It is the height of hypocrisy for the RSS, which played no role in the freedom movement, to now advocate for the removal of these foundational principles. That it cannot tolerate the values cherished by our martyrs betrays its reactionary, anti-people, and divisive ideology," the Left party "firmly" opposed "any attempt to alter the core values enshrined in our Constitution. We appeal to the people to remain vigilant and resolutely resist all such efforts by the RSS and its protege BJP." CPI General Secretary D Raja said everyone knows what RSS wants. "Everyone knows it is opposed to constitution/why they spoke of '400-paar' and that is why defending constitution became the central issue for opposition parties." Hosabale, while addressing an event on the Emergency, said on Thursday that "the preamble of the Constitution Baba Saheb Ambedkar made never had these words." "During the Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not work, and judiciary became lame, then these words were added." The RSS leader said discussions were held on this issue later but no effort was made to remove them from the Preamble. "So whether they should remain in the Preamble should be considered," he had added. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, however, sought to defend Hosabale's call, saying any right-thinking citizen would endorse it because everybody knows that these words were not part of the original Constitution written by Ambedkar. PTI
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
‘Ensure dignity and security of women choultry workers'
Forty-four women choultry workers from five districts, Ramanagara, Chamarajanagar, Bagalkote, Belagavi, and Bengaluru, took part in a consultative meeting on 'Safety, Dignity, and Respect of Choultry Women Workers' here on Friday. Hanunavva, one of the participants, said, 'We are paid rupees ₹400 a day. I am worried about my children's future. Sleeping in the choultry environment during work is unsafe for women workers.' 'We are picked up for the work, but it is challenging for us to return home in the wee hours,' said Nagavva, another participant. Abuse 'It is common that choultry workers face abuse at the workplace at the hands of cooks, employers, and contractors. They work 12 hours a day, but do not get minimum wages. For example, in cities like Bengaluru, women workers at marraige halls are paid ₹500 a day, while in rural areas they are paid only ₹300. As per the Labour Department rules, these workers are supposed to get a minimum wage of ₹710 a day for nine hours of work,' said Nandini, State lead, ActionAid Association. She urged the government to collect tax from the owners of the marriage halls and use it for the welfare of the workers, like how it is done for construction workers. Lawyer Vinaya Sreenivasa said there is a need for a concerted struggle to protect their rights. A study conducted by ActionAid two years ago exposed the plight of choultry workers, he said. 'The contract labourers carry out their work continuously from 6 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. or 11 p.m. every day. Some owners and cooks do not even allow them to go to the toilet at the workplace. In case of minor injuries, there is no response. It is midnight when they reach home from work, and there is no proper transport system,' he added. Unorganised sector Meena Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Labour, said that these workers belong to the unorganised sector and are not getting benefits like provident fund, ESI, bonus, etc. Considering the issues, the Karnataka government has come up with the Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hasta Yojana, which provides insurance up to ₹1 lakh and hospitalisation expenses in case of any accidents at work, she said. She called on the workers to register for the scheme. She explained that the State government has revised the minimum wages to ₹716 in Zone-1 and ₹565 in Zone-IV for unskilled workers in community halls and marriage halls.
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Any right-thinking citizen will endorse it": Jitendra Singh backs RSS' call to reconsider 'secular' and 'socialist in Preamble
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 27 (ANI): Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday defended Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's suggestion to reconsider the inclusion of the term 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian constitution, saying that any 'right-thinking person' would support such a demand as these terms were not part of the original Constitution. 'Any right-thinking citizen will endorse it because everyone knows they are not part of the original constitution, which Dr Ambedkar and the rest of the committee wrote. This is not the question of BJP vs is a matter of preserving democratic and constitutional values, and those violating the constitution are actually the biggest violators,' Singh told reporters. He pointed out that the words 'Secular' and 'Socialist' were added later, through the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution during the emergency, and not by the original drafters. 'Obviously! I don't think there's any doubt about it. Dattatreya Hosabale has stated that the words 'secular' and 'socialist' were added to our Preamble after the Amendment. Dr Ambedkar has crafted one of the world's finest constitutions. If this was not his thinking, how did someone add these words?' Singh added. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah stated that the original Preamble didn't include the terms 'secular' and 'socialist,' as it was evident that India would be a socially just democracy. These terms were added later, at a time when the RSS and its affiliates were attacking these values. Singh's remarks followed Hosabale's suggestion that it is necessary to reconsider whether the terms 'secular and socialist' mentioned in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution should remain. Hosabale was addressing a program on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, jointly organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (under the Ministry of Culture) and the Ambedkar International Centre. Speaking at the event, he emphasised that the Emergency wasn't just a misuse of power but an attempt to crush civil liberties. Millions were imprisoned, and freedom of the press was suppressed. He said that those who imposed the Emergency and trampled the constitution and democracy have never apologised. If they cannot apologise personally, they should do so on behalf of their ancestors. He remarked that during the Emergency, terms like 'socialist' and 'secular' were forcibly inserted into the constitution -- a move that needs to be reconsidered. (ANI)
