After Hosabale, V-P Dhankhar Terms Secular, Socialist in Preamble as 'Ulcers', Kharge Slams RSS
New Delhi: After the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) suggestion that the inclusion of the words “secular and socialist” in the Constitution’s Preamble be reviewed, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar too has voiced similar opinions, terming the two words as “ulcers.”
The opposition has slammed RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and cited his statement to accuse the outfit of being against the downtrodden and the poor.
"The words were added during the darkest period of the Emergency, the darkest period for the Constitution. And by adding these words, we gave wings to existential challenges. These words have been added as ‘nasoor’ (festering wounds and ulcers). These words will create upheaval. Addition of these words signals a betrayal of the framers of the Constitution. This is nothing but belittling our civilizational wealth... It is sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatana,” Dhankhar had said on June 28, reported The Tribune.
Dhankhar had said that no other country’s Constitution’s Preamble had undergone a change and Preamble is not changeable and alterable. He added that the “worst part” was the timing of the addition of these two words, which were added during the Emergency.
“The founding fathers thought it fit to give us that Preamble. But devastatingly, the change was made when people were virtually enslaved," said Dhankhar, speaking on the subject just days after Hosabale’s statement.
'Congress will fight tooth and nail if any word is touched in the Constitution'
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday (June 30) said that if any word is touched in the Constitution, his party will fight tooth and nail.
"He (Hosabale) doesn't want the poor class people to come up. And what was practiced thousands of years ago, he wants the same to continue. That's why he doesn't like socialism, secularism and liberty, equality and fraternity,” said Kharge in Bengaluru on Monday, reported Press Trust of India.
"RSS is always against the poor people, the downtrodden and Scheduled Caste and other communities. If they are so interested, they could have removed untouchability. They claim they are the champions of the Hindu religion. If they are so, they should remove untouchability," he added.
The Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said that the RSS should deploy its volunteers to remove untouchability from the country.
"Instead of that, simply talking, making noise and creating confusion in the country--that is very bad, and we are against it. The party will fight tooth and nail if any word is touched in the Constitution," said Kharge.
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