Shivraj Singh Chouhan Says ‘Secularism Not Core Of Our Culture’

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said that “secularism is not at the core of our culture,” a day after RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale called for a review of whether the words “socialist” and “secular” should remain in the preamble of the constitution. 

Both words were added to the preamble during the emergency. Chouhan said that there is “no need for socialism for socialism in India.” He also criticised the Indian National Congress asking them to apologise for imposing Emergency in the country 50 years ago. 

Speaking at a programme held in Varanasi to mark 50 years of the Emergency, Chouhan said, "Bharat mein samajwad kee zaroorat nahi hai. Dharmanirapeksh hamaaree sanskrti ka mool nahin hai aur issliye is par zaroor vichaar hona chaahiye' (There is no need for socialism in India. 'Secular' is not the core of our culture and hence, this must be deliberated upon)," he said.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday also asserted that any right-thinking citizen will endorse it because everybody knows that these words were not part of the original Constitution written by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Referring to the Emergency period, Chouhan said that "Those dark days are still remembered. Dictatorship is in the DNA of the Congress. Those who roam around with a copy of the Constitution in their hands will have to answer.” 

The statements came after the RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words “socialist” and “secular” in the preamble of the Constitution, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. Addressing an event organised at New Delhi on 50 years of the Emergency, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said, "The preamble of the Constitution Baba Saheb Ambedkar made never had these words. During the Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not work, the judiciary became lame, then these words were added."