RSS gives Preamble row ‘Ambedkar vs Indira’ spin
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Thursday renewed calls to review the presence of words “secular and socialist” in the Preamble of the Constitution.
Backing the recent statement made by Sangh’s second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale, RSS all-India communications chief Sunil Ambekar said a comprehensive debate must be held on the issue. “Speaking on the occasion of 50 years of Emergency, Hosabale mentioned events that unfolded at the time – including people who were being jailed and brutalised, political developments at the time and the way the Constitution was mauled,” said Ambekar, who arrived in Delhi on Thursday for a three-day meeting of 233 communication chiefs of RSS’ 11 regions and 47 organisational units.
Ambekar said Hosabale remembered the whole range of excesses committed as part of the imposition of Emergency and sought a discussion on all of those.
“At the completion of 50 years of Emergency, we talk about the excesses people suffered in jails. We also need to debate on the excesses the Constitution suffered through Amendments during the Emergency, Amendments that were enacted without parliamentary approval. We must discuss what should be done about these excesses,” he added.
Ambekar, however, side-stepped queries on whether the Sangh would ask the BJP to review the party’s constitution, which also mentions the words “secular and socialist”.
“The party shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy and would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India,” says the BJP Constitution. Opposition leaders have also flagged this matter.
When asked about the relevance of the debate around the words “secular and socialist”, RSS insiders said the question was simple — “Whether we want to live with the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar, which did not come with the words, socialist, secular; or the Constitution of Indira Gandhi, who introduced these words unilaterally without parliamentary approval?” A senior Sangh leader added that uncomfortable issues would have to be tackled head on.
The RSS mentioned a November-2024 judgment of the Supreme Court, wherein it rejected a bunch of petitions challenging the 1976 Amendment that introduced the words “socialist, secular” in the Preamble, the SC had observed that the Parliament’s amending power extended to the Preamble too. CJI Sanjiv Khanna dismissed the plea, saying, “We do not find any legitimate cause for challenging this Amendment after 44 years…Article 368 of the Constitution permits amendment to the Constitution and the power to amend unquestionably rests with the Parliament. This amending power extends to the Preamble.”
RSS leaders argue that the 1976 insertions, which late PM Indira Gandhi brought during the Emergency, did not have any parliamentary approval.
Plans for the centenary celebrations
Plans for the centenary celebrations of the Sangh, which will complete 100 years on Vijayadashami this year, will be finalised in the RSS’ three-day meeting. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s dialogue with civil society in Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai will be the highlight of the events.
India