Congress Alleges 'Socialist', 'Secular' Dropped From Constitution; BJP Says 'Was Like This Only...'

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, has raised concerns regarding the omission of the words 'socialist' and 'secular' from the Preamble of the Constitution copies distributed to Members of Parliament before their entry into the new Parliament building. He has also expressed doubts about the intentions of the Central government.

On September 19th, as MPs were handed new copies of the Constitution for their entry into the new Parliament building, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury noted that the Preamble did not include the terms 'socialist' and 'secular.'

While acknowledging that these words were added through an amendment in 1976, he emphasized that their absence in the current copies was a matter of concern. He questioned the motive behind this omission, describing it as suspicious and cleverly done.

Chowdhury attempted to raise this issue but was unable to do so during the proceedings.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi also said, "In the preamble it (the words 'socialist secular') were not there."

After Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's big claim that Preamble in the new copies of Constitution does not have the words "socialist" and "secular", BJP has said "it was like this only" when Constitution was made.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday claimed Preamble in new copies of the Constitution, that were given to MPs in their hands when they were entering new Parliament building, doesn't have the words socialist and secular.

"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," Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, adding that it is a matter of concern.

"Their intention is suspicious. It has been done cleverly. It is a matter of concern for me. I tried to raise this issue but I did not get an opportunity to raise this issue...": Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

Responding to these remarks, BJP leader and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi remarked that the Constitution was originally drafted without these terms and that the 42nd Amendment introduced them. He emphasized that there are original copies reflecting the Constitution's initial wording.

The inauguration of the new Parliament building took place on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a procession of parliamentarians from the old complex to the new one. As part of this event, Members of Parliament were presented with new copies of the Constitution.

In its original form, the Preamble described the state as a "sovereign democratic republic." The terms "Secular" and "Socialist" were introduced through the 42nd Amendment during a period of Emergency in 1976.