Latest news with #Preamble
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
The Conscience Network: Fighting the emergency and the US battlefront
The element of equivalence between then and now is probed delicately but bravely by this book which revisits the Emergency and the resistance to it from a new angle Aditi Phadnis Mumbai Listen to This Article The Conscience Network: A Chronicle of Resistance to a Dictatorship Published by Penguin 553 pages ₹1,299 There can be no debate on the Emergency in India. It was a dark time in Indian democracy and politics for which even the Congress has offered an explanation and a qualified apology. But 50 years after the event, the mystifying demand of top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary Dattatreya Hosabale that the words 'socialist' and 'secular' be removed from India's preamble does make you wonder. The 42nd Amendment that introduced the words during the Emergency didn't just amend the Preamble which is non-justiciable
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No plan or intention to reconsider or remove 'socialism' & 'secularism' from Preamble of the Constitution: Govt
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal clarified in the Rajya Sabha that the government has no plans to remove 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Constitution's Preamble, despite discussions in political circles. He emphasized that no formal legal or constitutional process has been initiated to alter these terms, which were added during the Emergency. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday submitted a written reply in the Rajya Sabha saying there is no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove the words ' socialism ' and ' secularism ' from the Preamble of the Constitution inserted during the Emergency period The minister further said that the Centre has not initiated any formal legal or constitutional process to remove the two words from the Preamble of the however, said there may be discussions or debates in certain political circles. "No formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government" regarding amendments to these terms."The government's official stand is that there is no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions," the minister further said that the Supreme Court had dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 amendment, which affirmed that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution extends to the Preamble, in November last court had observed that "socialism" in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while "secularism" is integral to the Constitution's basic acknowledged that certain groups may be expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these words."Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government," he month, former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar had said that the words inserted in the Preamble of the Constitution through an amendment during the Emergency era were a "festering wound", indicating support to the call by a top RSS leader for a review of the added terms 'secular' and 'socialist'.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'No Current Plan': Govt On Considering To Remove 'Socialism', 'Secularism' From Preamble
Last Updated: Government said there is no plan to remove 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated no formal actions have been initiated. Government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that there is 'no current plan' to remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Furthermore, government also said that there are no 'formal" initiations from its side to remove these words. 'Socialism' and 'secularism' were inserted into the Preamble during the Emergency period. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply, said the discussion could be among the political circles but 'government did not announce any formal course of action' regarding this. 'The government's official stand is that there is no current plan or intention to reconsider or remove the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' from the Preamble of the Constitution. Any discussions regarding amendments to the Preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions," the minister's reply was quoted by PTI. Meghwal also highlighted that in November 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 (42nd Constitutional Amendment), which confirmed that Parliament's power to amend the Constitution includes the Preamble. The court clarified that 'socialism" in the Indian context means a welfare state and does not hinder private sector growth, while 'secularism" remains a fundamental aspect of the Constitution's basic structure. Regarding the atmosphere created by the office-bearers of some social organisations, Meghwal mentioned that certain groups might be expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these terms. 'Such activities can create a public discourse or atmosphere around the issue, but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government," he said. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 09:59 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘No move to drop secular, socialist from Preamble'
The government has not initiated any formal legal or constitutional process to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Constitution, the Union law and justice ministry informed Parliament on Thursday. Responding to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman, Union minister of state (independent charge) for law and justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said that no formal decision or proposal has been made on the matter. The remarks come amid ongoing calls by some public figures and BJP leaders to revisit the inclusion of the two terms, added during the Emergency in 1976. (PTI) Meghwal acknowledged the 2024 Supreme Court observation that socialism reflects India's welfare state status and secularism forms part of the Constitution's basic structure. He underlined the difference between public discourse and official policy, stating, 'Regarding the atmosphere created by office bearers of some social organisations, it is possible that certain groups are expressing opinions or advocating for reconsideration of these words… but this does not necessarily reflect the official stance or actions of the government.' The remarks come amid ongoing calls by some public figures and BJP leaders to revisit the inclusion of the two terms, added during the Emergency in 1976. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar called the insertion a 'betrayal' of the Constitution's original vision. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma echoed similar sentiment. And Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said a debate should be held on the relevance of the two terms. 'During the Emergency, the country had no functioning Parliament, no rights, no judiciary and yet these two words were added,' he said at an event in Delhi on June Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also criticised the terms as not being a reflection of India's cultural values. The remarks sparked sharp political pushback. 'The Constitution irks them because it speaks of equality, secularism and justice,' Rahul Gandhi said on X. Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP and RSS of pushing for a new Constitution, despite electoral rejection of such ideas. 'The RSS and BJP have repeatedly given the call for a new Constitution. This was (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's campaign cry during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The people decisively rejected this cry... yet demands for changing the basic structure of the Constitution continue,' he said. Meghwal concluded in his response that any amendment to the Preamble would require broad consensus, and that no such process is currently underway. 'Any discussions regarding amendments to the preamble would require thorough deliberation and broad consensus, but as of now, the government has not initiated any formal process to change these provisions.'
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
No Plan To Remove 'Socialist' And 'Secular' From Preamble: Law Minister
New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that although some groups are advocating for the removal of the words "socialist" and "secular" from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, the government has no current plan or intention to pursue such a move. Responding in writing to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman, Mr Meghwal clarified: 'The Indian government has not formally initiated any legal or constitutional process to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble. While there may be discussions or debates in certain public or political circles, no formal decision or proposal has been announced by the government regarding amendments to these terms.' His statement follows recent remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who in June called for a national discussion on whether these words, added during the Emergency via the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976), should remain in the Preamble. Mr Meghwal distinguished the government's stance from the views expressed by leaders of social organisations. 'It is possible that some groups are expressing opinions or advocating for a reconsideration of these words. Such discussions may contribute to public discourse, but they do not reflect the official position or actions of the government,' he said. Citing a Supreme Court ruling from November 2024 in Dr Balram Singh & Others vs Union of India, Minister Meghwal said: 'The court clarified that 'socialism' in the Indian context signifies a welfare state and does not impede private sector growth, while 'secularism' is integral to the Constitution's basic structure.' Reiterating the government's position, he added: 'There is no current plan or intent to reconsider or remove the words from the Preamble. Any such constitutional amendment would require broad political consensus and detailed deliberation — and at present, no such process has been initiated.'
