VP Dhankhar calls Emergency-era Preamble changes a ‘festering wound’

Key Takeaways:

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized changes to India’s Preamble made in 1976.
• He asserted that the Preamble is “not changeable” and altering it betrays the framers’ wisdom.
• The words “socialist”, “secular”, and “integrity” were added during the Emergency by the 42nd Amendment.
• Dhankhar described these additions as a “nasoor” (festering wound) that could cause upheaval.
• He noted that no other country’s Preamble has been changed except India’s.

Vice President Condemns Changes to India’s Preamble

At a recent book launch event, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar voiced strong criticism of the alterations made to the Preamble of India’s Constitution during the Emergency in 1976. He asserted that the Preamble is “not changeable,” emphasizing that modifying it signals a betrayal of the wisdom of the Constitution’s framers.

Amendments During the Emergency

Dhankhar highlighted that the Preamble was altered by the 42nd Constitution (Amendment) Act of 1976, during a period of Emergency in India. The words “socialist,” “secular,” and “integrity” were added to the Preamble at that time.

A ‘Festering Wound’

Describing these additions as a “nasoor” (festering wound), the Vice President warned that they could cause upheaval. “It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is a sacrilege of the spirit of Sanatan,” he stated.

Unique Among Constitutions

Dhankhar pointed out that India’s Preamble is the only one globally that has undergone such a change. “The Preamble of no other constitution has undergone change except that of India,” he noted, underscoring the uniqueness of this alteration.

The Preamble as a Seed

The Vice President described the Preamble as a “seed” on which the Constitution grows, implying that its integrity is fundamental to the nation’s constitutional framework. He suggested that changes to the Preamble undermine this foundational aspect.

Cultural and Civilizational Impact

“It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years,” Dhankhar remarked, expressing concern over the cultural implications of the amendments. He viewed the changes as a “sacrilege of the spirit of Sanatan,” connecting the issue to India’s ancient traditions and values.

Warning of Potential Upheaval

Dhankhar cautioned that the additions to the Preamble could lead to unrest. By referring to the amendments as a “festering wound,” he implied that unresolved issues stemming from the changes might cause future challenges.