Union Minister Calls for Removal of 'Secularism' from Indian Constitution

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday called for the removal of the word secularism" from the Indian constitution, saying it is not the core of our culture." The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister went on to say that there is no need for the word socialism" in the constitution as well.

The minister pointed out that both terms were included in the preamble of the Indian Constitution during the Emergency.

The basic sentiment of India is equality of all religions& Secularism is not the core of our culture. The word secularism was added (to our culture) during the Emergency. It should be removed& Live and let live is the basic sentiment of India& Therefore, there is no need for socialism here& There is no need for the word socialism (samajwad) either. The country should think about this," he said.

Chouhans remark came after RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabales call for reviewing the words socialist and secular in the Preamble of the Constitution. Hosable said it is not about dismantling the constitution but about restoring its original spirit", free from the distortions" of the Congress Emergency-era policies, according to an article published in an RSS-linked magazine on Friday.

Recalling the time during the Emergency, he said, I used to distribute pamphlets saying Emergency Hatao and Indira teri tanashahi nahi chalegi. On 9 April, in the last nine months of the Emergency, the police got a whiff of it. They came to my house, slapped me and hurled such abuses at me that I cant even repeat. They dragged me down the stairs and took me to the police station. They hit my knees and elbows so badly that they still hurt today. They tortured me the whole night, and then in the morning, they handcuffed me and took me to the Magistrate, who signed off the papers to send me to jail."

While I was being taken to jail on foot and in handcuffs, some children passing by saw me and said that I must be a thief. When I heard the word chor, my conscience wept. I started shouting slogans alone that zulm ke aage nahi jhukunga, zulm kiya toh aur ladunga& When I reached Bhopal Central Jail, I was shouting slogans from outside, and those who were already jailed were shouting slogans from inside the jail& I had made up my mind in that jail that I would not live for myself. I have to do something for the country and society," he added.