RSS calls for review of words ‘secular’, ‘socialist’ in Preamble to Constitution

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Thursday said that the inclusion of the words “secular” and “socialist” in the Preamble to the Constitution should be reviewed, reported PTI.

“The words were added during [the] Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not function, and the judiciary became lame,” said RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.

He added: “So, whether they should remain in the Preamble should be considered. The Preamble is eternal. Are the thoughts of socialism as an ideology eternal for India?”

The RSS is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Hosabale made the statements while speaking at an event marking 50 years since the Emergency was declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government in 1975.

VIDEO | Addressing an event on '50 years of Emergency' in New Delhi earlier today, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabole said, "Babasaheb Ambedkar never used these words (socialist and secular) in the preamble of the Constitution. The words were added during Emergency, when… pic.twitter.com/wXfQg9WhyQ— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 26, 2025

Speaking about the “several injustices” meted out during the Emergency, the RSS general secretary demanded an apology from the Congress for the “draconian” actions, The Hindu reported.

Hosabale stated that more than one lakh persons were jailed during the period, including 250 journalists. He also said that the then-government had...

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