Vice President Dhankhar: Indian Preamble Unalterable Like Parenthood

Kochi, Jul 7 (PTI) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, in an address on Monday, emphasized the immutable nature of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, likening it to the unchangeable bond of parenthood. "There have been numerous discussions surrounding the Preamble. The Preamble to our Constitution is akin to parenthood for children. No matter how much one might try, it's unalterable, just as you cannot change your parentage," he stated.

Speaking to students and faculty at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) in Kochi, Dhankhar reflected on the fact that historically, preambles around the world remain untouched. He noted with regret that India’s Preamble was amended during the Emergency period. "The amendment occurred when countless individuals were imprisoned, marking a dark chapter in our democratic history," he said.

This discussion is set against the backdrop of calls from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for a re-evaluation of the inclusion of the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble. These additions were made during the Emergency, though they had not been part of the original draft crafted under the guidance of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Addressing an event in New Delhi marking 50 years since the Emergency, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabole commented on these terms. "Babasaheb Ambedkar did not incorporate these words in the original Preamble. The terms were introduced during Emergency, a period when fundamental rights were suppressed, legislative activities ceased, and the judiciary was rendered powerless," he remarked.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)