Shiv Sena demands removal of word 'secular' from Indian Constitution
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MUMBAI: Following a quarrel over a Republic Day advertisement by Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B), the Shiv Sena on Wednesday demanded that the words 'secular' and 'socialist' must be permanently removed from the Constitution, said a report published on the Times of India.
The Republic Day advertisement carried a picture of the preamble to the Indian Constitution without the words 'secular' and socialist', as it was before the controversial 42nd Amendment which changed the description of India from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic".
Indian right-wing political party Shiv Sena's minister of parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut expressed that the words should be removed permanently from the Constitution.
"We welcome the exclusion of the [secular and socialist] words from the Republic Day advertisement," Raut said.
"Though it might have been done inadvertently, it is like honouring the feelings of the people of India. If these words were deleted by mistake this time, they should be deleted from the Constitution permanently," the Sena MP further added.
Raut also said that ever since the words were added in the constitution, it was felt that India can never be secular.
"Balasaheb Thackeray and before him Veer Savarkar had been saying that India was divided on the lines of religion. Pakistan was created for Muslims, thus, what remains is a Hindu Rashtra," Raut said.
He also alleged that the minority community in India is being used for political gains while "Hindus are being continuously disrespected". He added that nowhere in the constitution it has been written that you apportion such treatment to Hindus, just to gain votes from the Muslim community.
"This mistake on the part of the government has happened only because destiny wants this to happen. Modi is the Prime Minister of India, and his thoughts on Hindutva are strong," the Sena leader added.
Congress leader Manish Tewari on Tuesday claimed that the government advertisement "deleted" the two words, which was only a prelude to their "substitution" with "communal" and "corporate".
On the other hand, Minister of State for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore dismissed the claim, explaining that his ministry had only used an "original" picture of the Preamble as it appeared before the Amendment, to "honour" the first Preamble.
Rathore also argued that the picture was used previously in 2014 by the I&B Ministry, when Tewari himself was leading the ministry.
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On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Jan 29, 2015 12:10pm
What Shiva Sena says is true. Pakistan was created for Muslims, but unfortunately for India, the leaders at that time did not insist that 42 Million Muslims in Indian territory to migrate. Only 7.5 Million eventually moved to West and East Pakistan.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:13pm
Yes please remove socialist and secular and replace them with chuavanist and facist republic.....
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Jan 29, 2015 12:15pm
Both India and Pakistan have some fanatics Idea organisations and parties .They draw attention of the common people for their own benefits in the name religion rather than respecting human values .For their bad luck most of the people in both countries neglect them and their communal theory
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Jan 29, 2015 12:15pm
Typical Shiv Sena rant who is struggling to be relevant in their Home town of Mumbai. Rise of BJP severly impacted their importance
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Jan 29, 2015 12:16pm
These are the real anti-social elements, who are problems, hindrance for religious harmony, and development.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:16pm
It is true face of India. Wolf hidden behind democracy and secular masks.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:20pm
India's strength is its diverse, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and pluralistic fabric. As a patriotic Indian, I do not agree with Sanjay Raut.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:26pm
Indian constitution was written by Dr. Ambedkar, a Dalit, a low caste, recently praised by US President Obama, section 25, where all men and women are equal, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or nationality.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:33pm
Good old Shiv Sena. Many people don't know that these proponents of Hindutva are anti-Hindus themselves. More anti-Hindu than many non-Hindus. Shiv Sena activists beat up any non-Marathi whenever their leaders ask them to. "Maharashtra for Marathis", they say.
I want to tell the Shiv Sena…forget about Muslims. First tell me, what is your opinion of the Hindu UP and Bihar people who work in Mumbai? What is your opinion of Hindu South Indians? Just clarify this much.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:34pm
@MK and what is Pakistan a fascist country because it's constitution says it's Islamic country.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:35pm
I want shiv sena banned just like JUD. No place for such extremism in my country......
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Jan 29, 2015 12:38pm
Modi-fication in India's constitution...was expected... :)
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Jan 29, 2015 12:46pm
India's strength lies in unity in diversity and at any cost it should be maintained.Inclusion of word "secular and socialist" by 42nd amendment act 1976 was the recognition of the what India always advocated for and that amendment was just to explicit what was implicit till then.But now any attempt to delete these word will be seen as an attempt to make this nation only based on the belief of the majority community.so I just want to say that political parties should not waste their time on these issues rather they should focus on the development of country and which is only possible when all people of every faith will develop.Let me clear one more thing mere lip Service of any rss member to cath the space in media is not going to fructify untill we the common people think so.
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Jan 29, 2015 12:50pm
@Ahmed USA Buddy, fyi, the original preamble does not have these words. Its mentioned in the report. It was the pic that was used. another fyi, modi can't change/ammend the constitution, NDA does not have a 2/3rd majority in the LS(in the RS they r a minority) ... It is not a booklet with twelve or ten pages which he can tear away(pun intended) ... i hope u do understand what i am referring to ...
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Jan 29, 2015 12:58pm
@MK If that were the case we would have ensured the Muslim population which stayed back moved to Pakistan immediately after partition
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Jan 29, 2015 01:04pm
As it is very sad that people like Raut pushing India back but what he said are never going to be happen.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:11pm
Secularism is a negative concept. It emphasis opposition to faith. It owes its birth to protest against the cruel grip of church on human life. This western concept was introduced by Macaulays in india. Indian life is governed by Dharma. We give our babies godname, whereas I have not come across any xtian have jesus name.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:15pm
@glassyman : what about jihadis, they can preach hate on loudspeakers !
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Jan 29, 2015 01:17pm
When India is a Hindu country in letter and spirit...what is the purpose of this pseudo 'secular' notion.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:19pm
@ glassyman - I agree Shiv Sena should be banned if they instigate violence & hatred. Two wrongs never make one right
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Jan 29, 2015 01:30pm
These people are not real India...India never elected people on religious Basis..Modi came to power in the name of development...People never voted for Ram Mandir...The fabric of India from ancient times always been secular...In ancient times All religions likes Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism prospered and thrived in the same land and received equal royal patronage. Only place in the world where Jews were not persecuted, Place where parsis from Iran took refugee..Place where Tibetans took refugee...People who points finger at India needs real Introspection...India always been stood on the foundation of humanity and principles not on religion.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:31pm
Good going! that's the right direction.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:31pm
I am sorry but home land for muslim s was created in 1947. Now most of hindus have lready left for pakistan, even if they want to be secular they cannot as no scizable hindu community is left. We are secular with 20 crores muslims , more than population of pakistan and we are secular.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:36pm
Ghar waapsi?
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Jan 29, 2015 01:37pm
As an Indian i believe in secularism and peace. secularism, democracy are basic structure of Indian constitution. The supreme court of India has said that parliament can not change the basic structure of constitution. RSS, Shive Sena, are playing political game in the name of Hindutva, but i am sure they will not succeed because majority of people believe in religion tolerance and central government can not overrule the voice of majority, no matter shiv sena and RSS has supported them in general election...............
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Jan 29, 2015 01:38pm
On wat ground Pakistan can question us ?
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Jan 29, 2015 01:43pm
Secularism is soul of India it's not possible to remove .
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Jan 29, 2015 01:59pm
@MK I, Indian, Hindu, do not agree with Shiv Sena's point of view. - Point 1
Point 2. Shiv sena represents a fraction of India's electorate- its views remain its views only
Point 3. If Pakistan can become an Islamic republic and not secular republic ; Pakistan has no right to question India
Point 4. India's minority population- includes Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis have all grown and not degrown like in Pakistan
Point 5. While there are views from Political parties and sections of communities that are contrary to democratic ethos of India- Indians will not wage a Jihad against those with alternate views...!
Point 6. India will remain a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic for the next 1000 years. Have no doubts over that.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:13pm
Looks like Rss, shivasena, Vhp and others famous among Pakistani media than ours. Because here in India nobody bothers about them. They don't have little support from the public. These people are definitely embarrassing Modi Govt. for sure
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Jan 29, 2015 02:25pm
Secularism is the soul of India. I agree that political parties have miss used the concept of secularism in India. But that does not mean that the concept needs to be removed. India is united and will remain strongly united as long as secularism remains not only in constitution but also in practice of common man.
There is no need to explain the significance of secularism to the people who wants to see the universe/world with single prism.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:28pm
It is desperate 'Gimmick' from Shivasena to be in political news... They have lost all their political capital... MNS a party which split out of Shivasena could not get even single seat in Maharashtra assembly elections....
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Jan 29, 2015 02:34pm
@rahul1 agree. It is dying and irrelevant group with defuct ideology. They just got roundly beaten in elections and are just trying to rake up issues...the self professed tiger had no brains and it does not have any teeth...they do not represent Hindus, Hinduism or Indians. They are and will end in the dustbin of history
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Jan 29, 2015 02:37pm
We the people of India don't support it. If we have to choose between harmony and development, our choice will be harmony.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:40pm
If India is secular then it doesn't make difference to whether keep it in constitution or not it is about popular mind set. If mind set is not secular then what is the point of keeping it in constitution.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:54pm
In their dreams. Shiv Sena is fighting to stay relevant, and gimmicks like these keep them in the news. The pressures of 24X7 news media will manufacture news out of inane sound bytes.
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Jan 29, 2015 02:56pm
@Sunil
"Indian constitution was written by Dr. Ambedkar, a Dalit, a low caste, recently praised by US President Obama, section 25, where all men and women are equal, regardless of caste, creed, religion, or nationality."
Yes indeed he did.
And, your point is?
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Jan 29, 2015 02:59pm
Secular word was there on advertisement during 65 years regime of congress... but we allhave seen how much congress was secular over these years?....
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Jan 29, 2015 02:59pm
Finally!!
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Jan 29, 2015 03:06pm
So now they come to know the meaning of 'secular'
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Jan 29, 2015 03:11pm
It is in PAkistan's interest to have strong, secure and peaceful India. Likewise it is not in India's interest to have an unstable Pakistan.
India should resist the rants of the fanatics, and Pakistan should turn back the retrograde steps introduced by Zia. Only then can both countries be at peace and prosper together.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:11pm
This is adverse reaction for the tactic adopted by by seculars who in India uses secular as a political tool rather than as an ideology
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Jan 29, 2015 03:21pm
This is nothing but a publicity stunt by shiv sena. Shiv sena is a party full of idiots. Abusing north Indians in Mumbai and hindutva are shiv sena's two pet topics that they like to talk about. Nobody takes them seriously in India. I am a Marathi and I dislike them.
Its my request to Dawn to not take these idiots seriously.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:24pm
These two words "secular" and "socialist" were introduced by Indira Gandhi during emergency when entire opposition was in jail. These words, therefore, should be removed as their introduction was done in an undemocratic manner.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:26pm
what Shiv sena is saying is right. Truth is bitter...
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Jan 29, 2015 03:28pm
The word Secular was not in the 1950 constitution preamble. This did not make the country a hindu rashtra. It was added later in the 70s.
The character of the country is reflected in the words of the constitution and not the reverse. Just by changing the words in the constitution the character of the country cannot be changed.
India is secular because of its majority hindu population that is used to worshiping multiple gods. Respect for different ways of worship is inherent in Hinduism. One Shiv Sena or RSS cannot change anything.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:29pm
Wasn't democracy invented by ancient Indians 5 million years ago?
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Jan 29, 2015 03:38pm
@ghanshyam
"Secularism is a negative concept. It emphasis opposition to faith. ... . . Indian life is governed by Dharma. ... .We give our babies godname, whereas I have not come across any xtian have jesus name."
I guess with your name you will understand the expression "Koop Mandook (aka frog in the well).
Secularism only means separation of Church and Politics i.e. The Pandits, the Priests, the Maulvis and their underlying Theories, Myths, Dogmas have no place in the running of a State because it's constituents may not all adhere to or have a common set of Dogmas or Principles.
Jesus is a common name in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries.
BTW it's not the name of "xtian" God.
The name Christopher (Chris for short) means carrying Christ (in my heart).
Does this help?
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Jan 29, 2015 03:42pm
I appreciate Mr Sanjay Raut,Shiv Sena's minister for parliament (MP). He wants India to show its true face. At least he is not a hypocrite.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:43pm
@Ramesh
And India grabbed the Muslims' states.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:45pm
@glassyman
"I want shiv sena banned just like JUD. No place for such extremism in my country....."
Is JUD banned in your country?
If you are from Pakistan, no JUD is not banned.
If you are from India, no JUD is not banned as it does not exist (for all known purposes) in India.
@ Ghanshyam
"@glassyman : what about jihadis, they can preach hate on loudspeakers !"
Do you have own identity?
Or, is your identity - "just not the other " whatever the other may or may not be?
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Jan 29, 2015 03:45pm
@Sunil
Good constitution; opposite practices, Sir.
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Jan 29, 2015 03:47pm
@citizen
"on wat ground Pakistan can question us"
A good question.
If not on spelling and semantic - on nothing!
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Jan 29, 2015 03:59pm
@Kuldeep
"Secularism is soul of India it's not possible to remove ."
I wouldn't be to bet my shirt on this.
To paraphrase Khushwant Singh and MJ Akbar: India is secular not because the Muslims and the Sikhs want it to be secular. India is secular because a large majority of Hindus is secular.
You know how it is with majorities - there today gone tomorrow.
Having said that - let me hasten to add that apparently the Hindu secularism (inherent in acceptance of multiple deities in the religion) has withstood the test of times. One has to constantly work to keep the flame alive. One cannot take it for granted.
Even then, a good demagogue, illiterate masses with blind faith is a potent mixture.
As said earlier - I wouldn't want to bet my shirt.
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Jan 29, 2015 04:01pm
@Agrippa - The Skeptic There can never be change to Indian constitution , on someones' instructions.
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Jan 29, 2015 04:03pm
Secularism, personal freedom, freedom of speech, gender equality, non-discrimination based on creed, race, language, physical appearance are extremely important. These things keep country vibrant and progressive. It takes all kinds of people to make this world a better place.
The word secular in constitution helps people remember our national ethos. We must absolutely keep it. Yes, the word itself cannot keep us secular and people do have tendency to start liking their own religion and dislike other religions...however, we must not let religion to take over our common-sense.
Without equality and fairness, the country will be a dull place.
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Jan 29, 2015 04:27pm
India was same before 42 amendment as it is after 42nd amendment. Having these words or removing them have no much meaning.
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Jan 29, 2015 06:15pm
For Pakistani brothers.
Congress: Is pseudo-secular. It knows hows to rule play number game and win elections.
BJP: Most leaders come from Hindu community (Congress and its pocket Indian media has branded them communal. There has been riots and deaths under Congress then anybody). IMO is more closer to secular if it can manage far right Hindu orgs like VHP.
Most Regional parties: They are blatantly regionalist casteist but generaly follow the policy of appeasement (not inclusive or equality) and occasionally separatist.
Shivsena: Bunch of goons who have Hindu blood allover their hand as they have routinely targeted attacked and murdered Hindus from other parts of India. They are simply lier and opportunists killers
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Jan 29, 2015 07:27pm
He need focus.
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Jan 29, 2015 08:01pm
Shivsena.. This one's for you.. YAWN.. Zzzz..
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Jan 29, 2015 08:37pm
@Datta My BAd i dint read you comment properly Sorry Budd
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Jan 29, 2015 08:38pm
@Sachin
I agree with you Brother:)
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Jan 30, 2015 03:42am
Pakistan doesn't have monopoly over idiots, We got idiots in india too. As a Hindu, i don't support the idea of a Hindu Nation. We were, We are and We will remain a Secular Country. Jai Hind!!
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