Sat Jun 28 08:33:27 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

This article reports on a debate sparked by the RSS calling for a review of the words “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The RSS argues these words were added during the Emergency and not part of the original document drafted by B.R. Ambedkar. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar weighed in, stating that the Preamble of a Constitution is not changeable as it is the seed on which the document grows. He noted that the Indian Preamble was changed during the Emergency. Opposition parties have criticized the RSS’s proposal, calling it an assault on the Constitution. A magazine linked to the RSS defended the call, arguing it seeks to restore the Constitution’s original spirit. A Union Minister also supported the review.

**News Article:**

**VP Dhankhar Enters Preamble Debate as RSS Push for Review Sparks Controversy**

**New Delhi, June 28, 2025** – A national debate has erupted over the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, following a call from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to review the inclusion of the words “socialist” and “secular.” The RSS argues these terms, added during the Emergency period of the 1970s, were not part of the original Constitution authored by B.R. Ambedkar.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the issue at a book launch on Saturday, stating, “The Preamble of a Constitution is not changeable as it is the seed on which the document grows.” He highlighted the fact that the Indian Preamble has undergone change, referencing the 42nd Amendment of 1976.

The Congress party and other opposition groups have strongly condemned the RSS’s proposal. They have called it “political opportunism” and a “deliberate assault on the soul of the Constitution.”

In response to the criticism, an article published in the RSS-affiliated magazine *Organiser* asserted that the proposed review is not aimed at dismantling the Constitution. Instead, it intends to restore its original spirit, which they claim was distorted by the Congress party’s policies during the Emergency.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has added his support to the debate, stating that any “right-thinking citizen” would agree that the words “socialist” and “secular” were not originally part of the Constitution written by Dr. Ambedkar.

The debate raises fundamental questions about the evolution of the Indian Constitution and the interpretation of its core principles. The discussion is expected to continue to fuel political tensions and public discourse in the coming weeks.

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