Govt says word 'secularism' misused;Sonia raises 'intolerance'

The Winter session of Lok Sabha today began with an animated debate on the Constitution during which the government said the word 'secularism' mentioned in it had been "misused" while the opposition, led by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, raked up the issue of 'intolerance'.
Initiating discussion on 'Commitment to India's Constitution as part of 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the architect of the Constitution had never thought of putting the term 'secularism' in the Preamble but it was incorporated through an amendment in 1976.
"The words 'socialist' and 'secular' were incorporated in the Preamble through the 42nd amendment of the Constitution. We have no objection. Let bygone be bygone. B R Ambedkar had never thought the necessity to incorporate it in the Preamble as these two words were part of the Constitution. It is inbuilt in the Indian system," he said amidst protests from Congress.

Singh objected to the use of Hindi word 'Dharma Nirpekshta', saying the literal translation of the secularism should be 'Panth Nirpekshta' and it should be regularly used as it is the official Hindi translation of secularism.
"Secularism is the most misused word in the country. Its misuse should come to an end. Because of the rampant misuse of the word, there have been instances of tension in the society," he said in the packed House where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were present.
Singh said it was difficult to maintain social harmony because of the "rampant misuse" of the word secularism.

Gandhi, in turn, targetted the government over the issue of intolerance, alleging that ideals and principles of the Constitution are under threat and being attacked deliberately.

Several other opposition parties also raked up the intolerance issue, saying the untoward incidents witnessed in the recent past should be condemned as they send out "negative messages" and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the matter.
Gandhi hit out at the BJP government for organising the debate, saying "People who never had faith in the Constitution nor had they participated in its drafting, are now swearing by it and are laying claim to it. They are now having a discussion on commitment to it. There cannot be a bigger joke than this."

The Congress President said Ambedkar had observed that
howsoever good a Constitution may be, if those implementing it were bad people, then the utlimate effect would only be bad.
At a time when BJP is seeking to appropriate the legacy of Ambedkar, Gandhi also utilised Ambedkar's praise of the Congress for its contribution in the drafting of the Constitution, indicating that the Congress could lay the rightful claim on the document.
Contending that the issue of reservation has been politicised, the Home Minister made it clear that quota was a constitutional provision and there was "no scope" for any further debate on the issue.

"Reservation is a socio-political necessity. Hence, there is a constitutional provision for it," he said.
The remarks came weeks after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat favoured a review of the reservation system. Top BJP leaders, during Bihar Assembly polls, repeatedly assured that the government would not do away with the present quota system.
Asserting Modi government's commitment for safety and security of every Indian, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, Singh said everyone born in India is Indian and all are brothers.
He also appared to take a jibe at actor Aamir Khan as he said Ambedkar had never thought of leaving the country despite being subjected to insult and discrimination.

He said India was the only country where all 72 sects of Muslims lived and communities like Zoroastrian and Jews felt safe while facing persecution elsewhere.
Besides paying glowing tributes to Ambedkar, Singh remembered the contribution of late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and late Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel in nation building.
Singh described Lord Ram as the greatest democrat as he had asked his wife Sita to take 'Agni Pariksha' (test of fire) after someone raised some issue regarding her.
He said Modi was inspired by the philosophy of Ambedkar and Constitution and launched schemes like 'Jan Dhan Yojana', 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', 'Beti Badhao, Beti Padho'.

His remarks linking the projects with Ambedkar's vision invited strong reactions and jibes from opposition benches.
When Singh said the government is working for 33 per cent reservation of jobs for women in paramilitary and state police forces, a member from the Congress asked why the Modi government was delaying the Constitution amendment bill to provide for one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
In his tributes to Ambedkar, Singh said he was also the brain behind the establishment of the RBI, Finance Commission and several waterways projects across the country.
Gandhi said there was no doubt that the Constitution gave equal voice to the poor and secular values to the country, made democracy more representative and government more accountable.

Hailing the greatness of the Constitution, she said it happens very rarely in the world that a galaxy of stalwarts work in unison to produce a document of such magnitude.