RSS seeks review of terms ‘secular’, ‘socialist’ in Constitution’s preamble

The RSS general secretary stated that debates have been held previously on this issue, however, no effort was made to eliminate them from the preamble (Image: X)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday said the terms ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Constitution’s preamble should be reviewed, noting that these words were added during Emergency and not were not part of the original draft by BR Ambedkar.

“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, judiciary became lame, then these words were added,” Hosabale said at an even organised in Delhi on 50 years of the Emergency.

The RSS general secretary stated that debates have been held previously on this issue, however, no effort was made to eliminate them from the preamble. “So whether they should remain in the preamble should be considered,” he added, according to PTI.

"The preamble is eternal. Are the thoughts of socialism as an ideology eternal for India?" Hosabale said.

Addressing the event, Hosabale also sought an apology from the Congress party for its Emergency era excesses.

Recalling the days of Emergency, which was announced by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, Hosabale said while thousands of people were put in jail and tortured during that period, freedom of the judiciary and media was also curtailed.

The days of Emergency also witnessed large-scale forced sterilisation, the RSS leader said. "Those who did such things are today roaming around with the Constitution's copy. They have still not apologised... Apologise," he said.

"Your ancestors did it... You must apologise for this to the country," Hosabale said.

What Congress said on RSS' demands

The Congress has accused the RSS and the BJP of being "anti-constitutional" after Hosabale called for reviewing the words "socialist" and "secular". In a post in Hindi on X, the Congress said it will never allow the BJP-RSS "conspiracy" to succeed and will oppose any such move.

"The thinking of the RSS-BJP is anti-constitutional. Now, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has demanded a change in the preamble of the Constitution," the Congress said.

"This is a conspiracy to destroy Baba Saheb's Constitution, which the RSS-BJP has been hatching for long," the Congress said.

(With PTI inputs)