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Scroll.in
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
‘Mask has come off': Rahul Gandhi on RSS calling for review of words in Preamble to Constitution
Criticising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for calling for a review of words in the Preamble to the Constitution, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that the Hindutva organisation's ' mask had come off again '. The RSS is the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The Constitution hurts the RSS because it talks about equality, secularism and justice, Gandhi said on social media. 'RSS-BJP does not want the Constitution, but Manusmriti,' said the leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. 'They want to enslave the marginalised and the poor again by snatching their rights. Their real agenda is to snatch away a powerful weapon like the Constitution from them.' Gandhi added: 'RSS should stop dreaming like this – we will never let them succeed. Every patriotic Indian will protect the Constitution till the last breath.' The Congress leader's comments came a day after the RSS on Thursday said that the inclusion of the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble to the Constitution should be reviewed. 'The words were added during [the] Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not function, and the judiciary became lame,' said RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale. He added: 'So, whether they should remain in the Preamble should be considered. The Preamble is eternal. Are the thoughts of socialism as an ideology eternal for India?' Hosabale made the statements while speaking at an event marking 50 years since the Emergency was declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government in 1975. The words 'socialist' and 'secular' were not part of the Constitution adopted in 1950 and were added in 1976 through the 42nd constitutional amendment. In November, the Supreme Court rejected a batch of petitions seeking the deletion of the two terms from the Preamble to the Constitution. The court said there was no legitimate justification for challenging the constitutional amendment several decades later. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Friday that the 'proposal' made by the Hindutva organisation ' exposes the RSS' long-standing objective of subverting the Constitution and its intent to transform India into a Hindu Rashtra, in pursuit of its Hindutva project.' The Congress had on Thursday night criticised Hosabale's remarks, saying that the RSS and the BJP's ideology stood in ' direct opposition ' to the Constitution. The remarks were not merely a suggestion, but a 'deliberate assault on the soul of our Constitution', alleged the Opposition party. 'It is part of a long-standing conspiracy to dismantle Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision for a just, inclusive and democratic India – something the RSS-BJP has always been plotting,' the party alleged. In 2015, a controversy erupted after the BJP-led Union government's newspaper advertisements on Republic Day featured a Preamble with the two words omitted. In September 2023, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that the two words were missing from the Preamble in the copies of the Constitution distributed to the MPs in the new Parliament building.
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
- Politics
- The Hindu
RSS never accepted Ambedkar's Constitution, says Opposition after RSS leader's comment on secularism, socialism
Opposition parties sharply criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's comment that the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble of the Constitution should be reviewed, with the Congress on Friday (June 27, 2025) alleging that the RSS 'never accepted' Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution. On Thursday (June 26, 2025), Mr. Hosabale had called for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, arguing that they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar. 'The Preamble is eternal. Are the thoughts of socialism as an ideology eternal for India?' he said at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. In a Facebook post, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that the 'mask' of the RSS has come off again. 'The Constitution hurts them because it talks about equality, secularism and justice. The RSS-BJP does not want the Constitution but Manusmriti. By snatching their rights, they (BJP-RSS) want to make the poor and the Bahujans slaves again. Their real agenda is to snatch away a powerful weapon like the Constitution from them,' Mr. Gandhi said, adding his party 'wont let that happen'. Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, in a X post, said 'the RSS's 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,' Mr. Venugopal said. 'Read SC order' Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh, in a X post, added, 'The RSS has NEVER accepted the Constitution of India. It attacked Dr. Ambedkar, Nehru, and others involved in its framing from Nov 30, 1949 onwards. In the RSS's own words, the Constitution was not inspired by Manusmriti'. 'The Chief Justice of India himself delivered a judgment on November 25, 2024 on the issue now being raised by a leading RSS functionary. Would it be asking too much to request him to take the trouble to read it?' Mr. Ramesh said, while sharing the relevant portions of the Supreme Court order. Also Read | No one should be able to conquer us, even if multiple powers come together: RSS chief Bhagwat The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), in a statement, said, '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.' Stating that the Indian Constitution embodies the aspirations of countless freedom fighters, the CPI(M) said, 'The inclusion of 'socialism' and 'secularism' in the Preamble is not arbitrary; it reflects the core values for which freedom fighters like Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his comrades stood and sacrificed their lives.' CPI general secretary D. Raja said, 'B.R. Ambedkar had emphatically rejected the idea of Hindu Rashtra and the Constitution reflected the principle of secularism. That's why the RSS-BJP wants to distmantle the Constitution.' Secularism and Socialism are not mere words in the Constitution but the guiding principles that reflect the soul and vision of independent India, said G. Devarajan, general secretary All India Forward Bloc. 'Secularism is the cornerstone of India's pluralistic and inclusive civilisation. It ensures equal respect and freedom for all religions and is the bedrock of our national unity. Any attempt to dilute secularism is an attempt to communalise the polity and push the nation towards a dangerous theocratic trajectory, which is wholly alien to the spirit of our Constitution,' he said.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi slams RSS, says Constitution irks Sangh
New Delhi: After RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale 's comment on the Constitution, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the Sangh, accusing it of targetting the Constitution. "The mask of RSS has come off Constitution irks them because it speaks of equality, secularism , and justice. 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", Gandhi alleged in a social media post. "RSS should stop dreaming this dream - we will never let them succeed. Every patriotic Indian will defend the Constitution until their last breath", he added. AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said Hosabale's remarks were reflective of the RSS-BJP's "opposition" to the Constitution and asserted that "we will never let them succeed in this mission" and will defend the Constitution. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bayan Lepas: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the Congress party will stand like a rock against attempts to weaken or rewrite the Constitution while slamming RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's criticism of inclusion of the words "socialist" and "secularism" in the Constitution . "Now they are back to their old playbook," the CM said in a statement, in a scathing attack on the RSS. "We will defend its (Constitution's) values - secularism, social justice , and democracy - with full strength and conviction."
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delegates meet of SFI national conference begins in Kozhikode
Kozhikode: The four-day delegates conference of the 18th national conference of SFI began in Kozhikode on Friday with the slogan "Education is our right, unity is the way, diversity is our strength". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The conference was inaugurated by veteran journalist Sashi Kumar and theatre actor MK Raina at the Aspinwal Courtyard. The delegate conference will conclude on Monday with a massive rally where around 25,000 students are expected to participate. Chief minister will inaugurate the concluding public meeting. SFI national president VP Sanu presided over the inaugural function. Former SFI national president Arun Kumar, AIKS general secretary Vijoo Krishnan, AIDWA all India president PK Sreemathi addressed the gathering. Journalist Sashi Kumar said that RSS-BJP regime was distorting history. "By introducing new curricula, they are implementing their own agenda," he said. "We are living in a time when people cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood due to rampant social media propaganda. It's an era where the world blindly follows fabricated lies. This is the time for the youth to take up the fight to uphold the truth," Kumar added.
