Guwahati, 28 June (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again intensified the debate in political circles. He has appealed to the central government to remove the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the preamble of the Constitution. Sarma says that both these words were added during the Emergency through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment and do not match the basic constitutional spirit of India.

He made this statement at the release ceremony of the book 'The Emergency Diary' organized at the state BJP headquarters Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, which is based on the Emergency of 1975 and the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during that time. Sarma said, This is the right time that we completely erase the legacies of the Emergency.

Sarma said that the word 'secular' does not match India's concept of 'Sarva Dharma Sam Bhava', which shows equal respect for all religions. At the same time, 'socialism' is also not India's fundamental economic vision. Our ideal has always been 'Sarvodaya' and 'Antyodaya' - that is, the upliftment of the last person in society.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to remove colonial symbols, he said that in the same way the ideological legacies added during the Emergency should also be eliminated.

The Chief Minister said, Words like 'socialist' and 'secular' were not part of the original Constitution. They were added during the Emergency under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. I appeal to the central government to remove them from the preamble.

His remarks can give rise to intense debate not only at the political but also at the constitutional level, especially at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party is active in redefining post-independence ideologies and symbols.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash