RSS Leader Hosabale Calls For Debate On Emergency-Era Addition Of 'Socialist' And 'Secular' In Constitution's Preamble

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday (26 June) asked Congress to apologise for the imposition of Emergency, reported The Indian Express.

The RSS leader also called for a debate on the relevance of “socialist” and “secular” in the Constitution’s Preamble, which were added during the Emergency days.

Speaking at a book launch event at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, without mentioning the Congress, Hosabale said, “Those who did this (imposed the Emergency) are moving around with the Constitution in their hands. They have not apologised to the country for that. They must apologise for it. If your ancestors did it, apologise on their behalf.”

He questioned the legacy of the 42nd Amendment of 1976, made during Emergency rule, which added two terms "socialist" and "secular" to the Preamble.

“The words socialist and secular were added to the Preamble. No attempt was made to remove them later. So, there should be a discussion on whether they should remain," he urged.

"I say this in a building (Ambedkar International Centre) named after Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose Constitution did not have these words in the Preamble," he added.

During the Lok Sabha elections, several INDI Allinance leaders, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had waved a copy of the Constitution in various rallies, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was “trying to change” it.