‘Socialist, secular’ not in new copies of Constitution: Congress MP’s big claim

Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has raised concerns over the alleged attack on the Indian Constitution, claiming that new copies of the Constitution that were handed over to the politicians on the opening day of the new Parliament building don’t have the words ‘socialist secular.’

Congress MP Adhit Ranjan Chowdhury attacks Centre over new copies of Constitution 

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Chowdhury said, “The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us today (19th September), the one we held in our hands and entered (the new Parliament building), its Preamble doesn’t have the words ‘socialist secular.’”

#WATCH | Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us today (19th September), the one we held in our hands and entered (the new Parliament building), its Preamble doesn't have the words 'socialist… pic.twitter.com/NhvBLp7Ufi

— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2023

Further, the Congress MP said, “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,” he alleged.

He also said, “I tried to raise this issue, but I did not get an opportunity to raise this issue.”

Chowdhury on rift between ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’

On Day 2 of the special session at the new Parliament complex, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that nobody should try to create an unnecessary rift between ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’ as there is no difference between the two as per the Constitution of India.

“This Constitution is no less than the Gita, Quran, and Bible for us. Article 1 says, “India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States…” It means that there is no difference between India and Bharat. It will be better if nobody tries to unnecessarily create a rift between the two,” he said.

This controversy was sparked after the invitation for the G20 dinner was sent out in the name of the President of ‘Bharat’ and not India after Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).