: Dravida Kazhagam today alleged that removal of the words Socialist and Secular from the Preamble to the Constitution was a 'clear indication' of what was in store during BJP rule, "which wants to establish its agenda of Hindu Rashtra."
Though two senior ministers--Venkaiah Naidu and Ravi Shankar Prasad-- were speaking in two voices on the row--one stating that they were for secularism and another seeking a debate on removal,--- it was a clear indication that the BJP government wanted to make India a Hindu Rashtra, their hidden but pet agenda, Veeramani told reporters here.
Stating that the words were incorporated through 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, he said that these were the basic structure and it was not possible to remove them.
"is this voice of the Government and why has Prime Minister Narendra Modi not come out with any clarification on the issue?" he asked.
On the reported move to impose Sanskrit in educational institutions, he warned that if the Government stuck to its move, it would give rise to another language struggle, like Anti-Hindi Movement. "this will depend purely on the attitude of the Government," he said.
On demand from various political parties in Tamil Nadu to confer Bharat Ratna on rationalist leader "Periyar" E V K Ramasamy,whose ideals the DK follows,he said people have given the biggest title Periyar."We do not require another title."
To a question on the bypoll to Srirangam assembly constituency, where opposition votes are likely to be divided, Veeramani, without elaborating, said the result was a foregone conclusion.
