Oppn Questions Intent Behind Distributing Original Copy Of Constitution Without ‘Socialist, Secular’

New Delhi: A controversy erupted on Wednesday after Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that the new copies of the Constitution distributed to Members of Parliament to mark the first sitting in the new Parliament did not have the words “Socialist and Secular” in its Preamble.

“The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us…the one we held in our hands and entered [the new Parliament building], its Preamble does not have the words ‘socialist, secular’,” he told news agency ANI.

While the Opposition called it an “attack” on the Constitution, Law Minister Arjun Meghwal clarified that the copies featured the “original version” of the Preamble, which did not have the words ‘socialist, secular’.  A bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on September 18, the first day of the special session of Parliament, had also stated that members would be given a calligraphed copy of the original Constitution of India.

Chowdhury, however, said that this was a matter of concern and raises suspicion over the intentions of the government. “We know that the words were added after an amendment in 1976 but if someone gives us the Constitution today and it doesn’t have those words, it is a matter of concern…Their intention is suspicious. It has been done cleverly. It is a matter of concern for me. I tried to raise this issue but I did not get an opportunity,” he added.

Binoy Viswam of the CPI-M called the omission a “crime”.

Congress MP KC Venugopal also questioned the intent of the Centre behind distributing the original copies of the Constitution when it has already been amended. “What’s there in their mind is reflected through their actions. Now the Preamble and the Constitution have been amended. The most important words Socialist, Secular were avoided in the Preamble. It is clearly the message that the Government is giving… It is totally unfortunate,” he said.

Once an amendment is notified, the old Constitution should cease to be printed and any change to the Constitution, therefore, would be tampering, they asserted.

BJP MP Sushil Modi, however, said that this is an unnecessary controversy. “…It was not said that this is the amended copy. This was the original copy when the Constitution was accepted. It did not have the words ‘socialist secular’ in it…Does the socialist word have any relevance now?… This is an unnecessary controversy..”

Rajya Sabha member Mahesh Jethmalani  said that the original Constitution is valuable since the constituent assembly drafted it. “The amendments are there as they should be…There is no issue in this… Congress does not have any agenda so they are taking up small issues…”