RSS Demands Removal of Secular and Socialist from Indian Constitution
The RSS-affiliated publication, Organiser, has sparked a national debate by calling for the removal of the words "socialist" and "secular" from the preamble of the Indian Constitution. The magazine's latest issue features an article by Niranjan B Poojari, which contends that the addition of these terms during the Emergency via the 42nd Amendment was an act of "constitutional fraud," lacking proper debate and constituent assembly approval.
The article claims these words promote appeasement politics and undermine religious values. The editorial, endorsed by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, echoes these sentiments. Hosabale has previously criticised the inclusion of these words during a period of significant political restrictions.
Opposition parties have voiced strong disapproval, while the BJPs response has been notably muted, despite its own constitution incorporating these principles.