Page 6 - Indian Constitution

Cong bolstered democracy to extent that tea-seller could become PM: Bhagat

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Saturday said his party and India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru strengthened the roots of democracy and the Constitution to the extent that a "tea-seller" could become the country's prime minister. Participating in a debate on 75 years of the adoption of the Constitution, Bhagat hit back at Union minister Rajnath Singh claiming opposition leaders had seen their families keep the Constitution in their pockets for generations and said this was true as the most precious and important things were kept in pockets. "Yesterday (Friday), ruling party people were attacking Nehru but I would like to tell the House that the Congress and Nehru strengthened the roots of democracy and the Constitution so much that a tea-seller is a prime minister now. The Congress strengthened the roots (of democracy)," the MP from Jharkhand's Lohardaga said. Slamming the BJP, he claimed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-linked Organiser had said India would not accept

PM Modi to reply to debate on 75th anniversary of Constitution in LS today

On Friday, the debate on the Constitution witnessed fiery speeches of Defence Minister Singh and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Bleeding Constitution from a thousand cuts: Mahua Moitra slams govt

TMC MP Mahua Moitra accused the BJP-led Centre on Friday of "bleeding the Constitution from a thousand cuts" and said it is crystal clear that the political executive has "systematically eroded democracy" over the last 10 years. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution, Moitra asserted that the need of the hour is to ensure that the idea of India survives in its purest form. For a significant part of her speech, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP trained her guns on former chief justice of India D Y Chandrachud, without naming him, and said what troubles the opposition is that some members of the higher judiciary appear to be doing their best to compromise the independence and integrity of the country's constitutional courts. "The outgoing CJI waxed eloquent on how the right to bail has been granted during his tenure.... From A for Arnab to Z for Zubair, his alphabets seem to be abbreviated because it did not include G for Gulfisha Fatima, did not ...

Parliament highlights: Nehru blamed for everything, why don't you talk about present, asks Priyanka

Parliament winter session 2024 LIVE updates: BJP would have begun changing Constitution, if not for the Lok Sabha election results, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi stated

Congress tried to 'hijack' framing of Constitution, says Rajnath Singh

Senior BJP Leader Rajnath Singh on Friday said the contribution of several leaders in the making of the Constitution was deliberately ignored and hit out at the Congress, asserting that a particular party always tried to "hijack and appropriate" the framing of the Constitution. The defence minister initiated the debate in the Lok Sabha as the House took up a two-day 'Discussion on the glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India'. He pointed out that the Constitution had talked about religious freedom and it had been specified that the state will not have a religion and will be secular. "This was stated by those who were dubbed communal by the people of the Congress," he said. Singh said the Constitution was an expression of the general will of the people. "Our Constitution touches upon social, economic, political, cultural life and shows the way for nation building. It is a roadmap to giving India its place in the world stage... It is the outcome of a series of ...

BJP issues whip to RS MPs for debate on Constitution on Dec 16, 17

A special discussion on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution is being held in Lok Sabha on Friday and Saturday

Constitution debate in Parliament: Key issues and political clash explained

A two-day debate on India's Constitution begins in Parliament today, with BJP and Congress clashing over constitutional values, reservations, and key political issues

Unconstitutional things happening, says Kharge ahead of Constitution debate

When asked about 'One Nation, One Election', the Congress president said that they will see what is in the bill and then they will react to it

Constitution expects judicial independence, impartiality, says Owaisi

Owaisi further said that impartiality, independence, fairness and reasonableness in decision-making are the hallmarks of the judiciary

High-stakes Constitution debate set for Dec 13-17 in Parliament's winter session

The ongoing winter session of Parliament, which commenced on November 25, has been marked by frequent adjournments, with both houses facing early disruptions

Parliamentary disruption a malady, weakens our foundation: VP Dhankar

Vice President Dhankhar, who is Rajya Sabha Chairman, said that 75th National Constitution Day on November 26 was a moment for parliamentarians to send a message of hope to 1.4 billion people

Highlights: Sebi introduces mark-to-market basis valuation for repo transactions by mutual funds

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Sentiment of 'nation first' will keep Constitution alive for centuries: PM

Hailing the Constitution as a "living stream", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said it is acting as a "guiding light" at a time when India is going through a period of transformation. Addressing an event marking Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, Modi also paid homage to the victims of the Mumbai terror attack and reiterated the country's resolve that all terror groups challenging the security of India will be given a befitting reply. Recalling the words of Rajendra Prasad in his concluding address to the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, Modi said he had stated that India does not need anything more than a group of honest people who will keep the country's interests above their own. "This sentiment of 'nation first' will keep alive the Constitution for centuries to come," he said. Modi said the Constitution has now been fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and Constitution Day was celebrated there for the first time there. "Our Constitution mak

Opposition demands debate on Constitution in both Houses of Parliament

Opposition leaders on Tuesday demanded a debate on the Constitution in both Houses of Parliament, stressing it was needed in the light of the recent developments in the country. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said he and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have written to the Chair in the two Houses requesting that a discussion should be held on the Constitution for two days in both Houses. "Time should be allotted for that so that the good things about the Constitution can be discussed, and the wrong things that are happening today can also be discussed. Rahul Gandhi ji and I have written letters, we are waiting for the government's response," Kharge told PTI as the country celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh questioned if the Preamble of the Constitution is being implemented in letter and spirit. "Are people getting justice, liberty? Is there freedom of expression? Where is ...

Constitution Day 2024: Epic story behind the drafting of India's charter

Debates over 167 days, 274 members, 36 lakh words -- that's what it took before the Constituent Assembly adopted the world's longest written constitution on this day in 1949. Every Article in the Constitution, which ran into 1.45 lakh words at the time, was debated by members of the Constituent Assembly. They sat for 11 sessions and 167 days over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days to frame the Constitution. BR Ambedkar, regarded as the chief architect of the Constitution, was assisted by members of the drafting committee he chaired. India's first president Rajendra Prasad was the first person to sign the document 75 years ago. It is the largest written constitution in the world and the first edition was neither printed nor typed -- it was handwritten and calligraphed in both Hindi and English. According to facts available on the Lok Sabha website and analysis of Constituent Assembly debates by the think-tank PRS India, the Constitution's first copy was handwritten by Pre

Constitution played a key role in country's transformation: CJI Khanna

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said India has emerged as a vibrant democracy and a geopolitical leader, and the Constitution of the country has helped in this transformation. India has had a transformative journey from a nation, which under the aftermath and horrors of partition saw widespread illiteracy, poverty, lack of robust democratic system of checks and balances, to one which has now become a self-assured leader, the CJI said. "But at the back of it is the Constitution of India, which has helped this transformation. It is today a way of life that has to be lived up to," Justice Khanna said, while speaking at the Constitution Day function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) at the apex court. Since 2015, November 26 is observed as Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Earlier, the day was observed as Law Day. Attorney General R Venkataramani, SCBA president and senior

Those against Constitution speaking about changing it: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said those against the Constitution are speaking of changing it, while he and his party are fighting to safeguard it. He was speaking on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. "Those who are against the Constitution, they are telling it (about changing the Constitution). Recently Swamiji of the Pejawar Math in Udupi had also spoken about the need for amending the Constitution. I don't know...we are fighting to ensure that the Constitution should not be changed," Siddaramiah said in response to a question. Addressing reporters here, he said, "About 106 amendments have been made to the Constitution so far. We are celebrating 75 years (of adopting the constitution). Probably India's is the longest (written) Constitution in the whole world." Noting that it has been 75 years since the country adopted its Constitution, the CM said whether it is central or the state government or the

Indian Constitution turns 75: How it became world's longest-written charter

75 years of India's Constitution: Here's the incredible journey of the world's longest written charter that transformed a nation into the world's largest democracy

Constitution is tool to protect poorest, it must be upheld: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress on Tuesday urged citizens to protect the ethos of the Constitution and said the struggle to defend India's inherent philosophy must be reinvigorated and reignited in the 75th year of its adoption. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the Constitution is a powerful tool to protect the poorest and weakest sections of society, and the stronger it is, the stronger the country will be. In a swipe at the BJP, the opposition party also asserted that at a time when those out to destroy the Constitution are showing insincere commitment towards it, "our duty to protect it and fight for its true values becomes all the more relevant". Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the people of India should come together to protect each and every thought expressed in the Constitution. "The 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution has begun today. I extend my warmest wishes to all Indians on this historic occasion," the Congress president said in a post on X. "

CM Yogi urges citizens to uphold Constitution while Akhilesh slams BJP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday urged citizens to uphold the ideals of the Constitution, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP for allegedly undermining constitutional values while making a show of celebrating Constitution Day. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution at the Central Hall of Parliament on November 26, 1949. It came into force on January 26, 1950. The day of its adoption is observed as 'Samvidhan Divas'. CM Adityanath extended his greetings to the people of the state on social media platform X, describing the Constitution as an all-inclusive, all-beneficial document. "Our all-inclusive, all-beneficial Constitution, which strengthens respect and faith in the great democratic values in the mind of every citizen, is a sacred expression of the highest ideals, civic duties and rights," he said in a post on X in Hindi. "Come, keeping in view the national interest and public interest, let us all take a pledge to follow t