Constitution Debate in Lok Sabha: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha special discussion on 75th anniversary of adoption of Constitution. Addressing the House, Shri Modi remarked that it was a matter of pride and honor for all the citizens of India and all the people across the globe who respect democracy that we are celebrating this festival of Democracy.
Thanking the foresight, vision and efforts of the framers of our constitution in this remarkable and momentous journey of 75 years of our Constitution, he said that it was time to celebrate the festival of Democracy after successful completion of 75 years. Shri Modi was pleased that even the members of parliament were involving themselves in this celebration and expressing their views, he thanked and congratulated them for the same.
Terming the achievement of 75 years as an extraordinary feat, the Prime Minister expressed pride that the Constitution had overcome all the predicted possibilities for India, soon after its independence and the subsequent challenges to bring us all to this far. He expressed deep gratitude towards the constitution makers and the crores of citizens for this great achievement. Shri Modi remarked that the citizens of India had passed every test in successfully adopting and living the values of the Constitution as envisioned by its makers. He said therefore it was the citizens who truly deserved all the accolades.
Shri Modi remarked that the constitution makers never supported the view that India was born in 1947 or the constitution would come to effect from 1950, rather believed and were proud of the great tradition and heritage of India and its democracy. He added that India’s democracy and republic past has always been remarkable and has been an inspiration for the world and therefore, he added that “India is known as the mother of democracy”. Shri Modi underlined that we are not just a great democratic country but also the creators of democracy.
Quoting Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon from the constitutional debates, the Prime Minister said that “It is after centuries, such an eventful meeting is called for, which reminds me of our great past and the earlier times when we were independent and intellectuals used to discuss and deliberate meaningful issues in the sabhas”. He then quoted Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and said, “The system of Republic is not a new idea for this great nation for we have had this system since the beginning of our history”. He then quoted Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and said, “It is not that India is aware of democracy, there was a time when there were multiple republics in India”.
The Prime Minister lauded the role of the women during the process of making of the constitution and also empowering it further. He added that there were fifteen respected and active members in the Constituent Assembly and they had further strengthened the process of drafting the constitution by giving their original thoughts, views and ideas. Recalling that each one of them were from diverse backgrounds, Shri Modi emphasized that the thoughtful suggestions given by the women members had a profound impact on the constitution.
The Prime Minister also expressed pride that suffrage rights were given to women right from the time of independence as compared to many other countries of the world which took decades for the same. He added that with the same spirit, India during its presidency of the G-20 summit put forward the vision of Women-led development in front of the world. Shri Modi also noted the successful enactment of the Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam by all the parliamentarians and added that the Government had taken steps to ensure increased political participation of the women.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed dissatisfaction, stating that post-independence, the framers of the Constitution had unity in their hearts and minds. However, after independence, due to distorted mentalities or selfishness, the greatest blow was dealt to the core spirit of the nation\’s unity. The Prime Minister highlighted that unity in diversity has been India’s hallmark and emphasized that we celebrate diversity, and the country\’s progress lies in celebrating this diversity.
However, those with a colonial mindset, who could not see the good in India, and those who believed India was born in 1947, sought contradictions in this diversity. The Prime Minister remarked that instead of celebrating this invaluable treasure of diversity, efforts were made to sow poisonous seeds within it, aiming to harm the nation’s unity. Shri Modi urged everyone to make the celebration of diversity an integral part of our lives, and that will be the true tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted that over the past 10 years, the government\’s policies have consistently aimed to strengthen the unity of India. He added that Article 370 was an obstacle to the nation\’s unity and acted as a barrier. Shri Modi emphasised that the unity of the country was a priority, in line with the spirit of the Constitution, and hence, Article 370 was abrogated.
Shri Modi emphasized the need for favorable conditions in India to advance economically and attract global investment. He added that discussions on GST had been ongoing for a long time in the country. The Prime Minister remarked that GST has played a significant role in economic unity and acknowledged the contributions of the previous government and noted that the current government had the opportunity to implement it, advancing the concept of “One Nation, One Tax.”
Touching upon the importance of how ration cards have been a valuable document for the poor in our country and the difficulties encountered by a poor person when he/she moved from one state to another, Shri Modi said that they were not entitled to any benefits. He emphasized that every citizen should have equal rights, regardless of where they are in this vast country. And added that to strengthen this sense of unity, the government had reinforced the concept of “One Nation, One Ration Card.”
Emphasising the digital divide between the “haves” and “have-nots”, Shri Modi highlighted that India\’s success story in Digital India is a source of great pride globally. He added that the democratization of technology has been a key factor in this success. Shri Modi remarked that guided by the vision of the framers of the Constitution, the government has worked to extend optical fiber to every panchayat in India to strengthen national unity.
The Prime Minister remarked that the Constitution expects unity, and in this spirit, the importance of mother tongue has been recognized. He noted that suppressing the mother tongue cannot culturally enrich the nation\’s populace. Shri Modi remarked that the New Education Policy has given significant importance to mother tongue, enabling even the poorest children to become doctors and engineers in their native languages. He added that the Constitution supports everyone and mandates addressing their needs. Shri Modi highlighted that several classical languages were given their rightful place and respect. He mentioned that the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” campaign is strengthening national unity and instilling cultural values in the new generation.
Highlighting that the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Telugu Kashi Sangamam have become significant institutionalized events, Shri Modi emphasized that these cultural initiatives strengthen societal bonds. He added that the importance of India’s unity is recognized in the core principles of the Constitution, and this should be acknowledged.
The Prime Minister remarked while the Constitution is celebrating its 75th anniversary, milestones like 25, 50, and 60 years also hold significance. Reflecting on history, he remarked that during the 25th anniversary of the Constitution, it was torn apart in the country. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Emergency was imposed, constitutional arrangements were dismantled, the country was turned into a prison, citizens’ rights were snatched, and press freedom was locked down. The Prime Minister said that democracy was strangled, and the sacrifices of the Constitution’s framers were attempted to be buried.
Shri Modi noted that under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the nation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Constitution on November 26, 2000. The Prime Minister remarked that Atal Vajpayeeji, as Prime Minister, delivered a special message to the nation, emphasizing the importance of unity, public participation, and partnership. He noted that Shri Vajpayee’s efforts were aimed at living the spirit of the Constitution and awakening the public.
The Prime Minister said that during the 50th anniversary of the Constitution, he had the privilege of becoming the Chief Minister through the constitutional process. He highlighted that during his tenure as Chief Minister, the 60th anniversary of the Constitution was celebrated in Gujarat. He added that for the first time in history, the Constitution was placed in a special arrangement on an elephant, and a Constitution Gaurav Yatra was conducted. Shri Modi emphasized that the Constitution holds great significance, and today, as it completes 75 years, he recalled an incident in the Lok Sabha where a senior leader questioned the need for celebrating Constitution Day on November 26, given that January 26 already existed.
Shri Modi expressed happiness about the special session, noting that it would have been beneficial to discuss the power and diversity of the Constitution, which would have been valuable for the new generation. However he remarked that everyone had their own constraints, their own misgivings in various forms, with some revealing their failures. The Prime Minister emphasized that it would have been better if discussions had risen above partisan sentiments and focused on the national interest, which would have enriched the new generation.
The PM expressed special respect for the Constitution, stating that it was the spirit of the Constitution that enabled many people like him to reach where they are today. He highlighted that without any background, it was the power of the Constitution and the blessings of the people that brought them here. Shri Modi noted that many individuals in similar situations have reached significant positions because of the Constitution. He added that it is a great fortune that the country has shown immense faith, not just once, but three times. He remarked that this would not have been possible without the Constitution.
Shri Modi noted that from 1947 to 1952, India did not have an elected government but a temporary, selected one, with no elections held. He highlighted that before 1952, the Rajya Sabha was not formed, and there were no state elections, meaning there was no mandate from the people. He added that despite this, in 1951, without an elected government, an ordinance was issued to amend the Constitution, attacking freedom of expression. The Prime Minister emphasized that this was an insult to the Constitution\’s framers, as such matters were not addressed in the Constituent Assembly. He remarked that when the opportunity arose, they hammered down on freedom of expression, which was a grave insult to the Constitution\’s creators. The Prime Minister said that what could not be achieved in the Constituent Assembly was done through the back door by a non-elected Prime Minister, which was a sin.
PM highlighted that in 1971, a Supreme Court decision was overturned by amending the Constitution, clipping the wings of the judiciary. Shri Modi noted that the amendment stated that Parliament could alter any article of the Constitution without judicial review, stripping the courts of their powers. He added that this enabled the then government to curtail fundamental rights and control the judiciary.
The Prime Minister noted that during the Emergency, the Constitution was misused, and democracy was strangled. He emphasized that in 1975, the 39th Amendment was passed, preventing any court from challenging the elections of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Speaker, and this was applied retrospectively to cover past actions.
Further deliberating that during the Emergency, Shri Modi noted that people\’s rights were taken away, thousands were imprisoned, the judiciary was strangled, and press freedom was locked down. He remarked that the idea of a committed judiciary was fully enforced. The Prime Minister noted that Justice H.R. Khanna, who had ruled against the then Prime Minister in a court case, was denied the position of Chief Justice of India despite his seniority. He emphasized that this was a violation of constitutional and democratic processes.
Recalling the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Shah Bano case provided justice to an Indian woman based on the Constitution’s dignity and spirit, Shri Modi noted that the Supreme Court granted an elderly woman her rightful due, but then-Prime Minister negated this spirit, sacrificing the Constitution\’s essence. The Prime Minister remarked that Parliament passed a law to overturn the Supreme Court\’s decision once again.
The Prime Minister remarked that for the first time in history, the Constitution was deeply wounded. He added that the framers of the Constitution envisioned an elected government and Prime Minister. However, a non-constitutional entity, the National Advisory Council, which did not take any oath, was placed above the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The Prime Minister noted that this entity was given an unofficial status above the PMO.
Shri Modi highlighted that under the Indian Constitution, the people elect the government, and the head of that government forms the Cabinet. Recollecting an incident when a decision made by the Cabinet was torn up in front of journalists by arrogant individuals who disrespected the Constitution, Shri Modi said that these individuals habitually played with the Constitution and did not respect it. He added that it was unfortunate that the then Cabinet would then change its decision.
The Prime Minister noted that while Article 370 is well-known, very few are aware of Article 35A. He emphasized that Article 35A was imposed without parliamentary approval, which should have been sought. The Prime Minister remarked that the Parliament, the primary guardian of the Constitution, was bypassed, and Article 35A was imposed on the country, leading to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that this was done through a Presidential order, keeping the Parliament in the dark.
Shri Modi noted that during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government, it was decided to build a memorial in Dr. Ambedkar’s memory but this work was neither initiated nor allowed for the next 10 years. The Prime Minister emphasized that when his government came to power, out of respect for Dr. Ambedkar, they constructed the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial on Alipur Road and completed the work.
Recollecting that in 1992, during the tenure of Shri Chandra Shekhar, it was decided to establish the Ambedkar International Centre near Janpath in Delhi, Shri Modi said this project remained on paper for 40 years and was not executed. He highlighted that it was only in 2015, when his government came to power, that the work was completed. The Prime Minister noted that even the awarding of the Bharat Ratna to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was done a long time later after independence.
Shri Modi underlined that the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated globally in 120 countries and during Dr. Ambedkar\’s birth centenary, a memorial was reconstructed in Mhow, Dr. Ambedkar\’s birthplace.
Lauding Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a visionary committed to bring the marginalized sections of society into the mainstream, Shri Modi remarked that Dr. Ambedkar believed that for India to develop, no part of the country should remain weak. He added that this concern led to the establishment of the reservation system. The Prime Minister noted that those engaged in vote bank politics attempted to introduce various measures under the guise of religious appeasement within the reservation system, causing significant harm to the SC, ST, and OBC communities.
The Prime Minister remarked that the previous Governments strongly opposed reservations and emphasized that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar introduced reservations for equality and balanced development in India. The Prime Minister remarked that the Mandal Commission report was shelved for decades leading to delay in the reservation for OBCs. The Prime Minister noted that if reservations had been granted earlier, many OBC individuals would be serving in various positions today.
Shri Modi highlighted that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar strongly advocated for the abolition of personal laws based on religion. Quoting K.M. Munshi, a member of the Constituent Assembly, who stated that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is essential for national unity and modernity, Shri Modi said that the Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized the need for a UCC and has directed governments to implement it as soon as possible. He emphasized that, in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution and the intentions of its framers, the government is fully committed to establishing a secular civil code.
Reciting an incident of the past, the Prime Minister questioned how those who do not respect their own party\’s constitution can respect the country’s Constitution.
Shri Modi noted that in 1996, the BJP emerged as the largest party, and the President, respecting the Constitution, invited them to form the government. However, the government lasted only 13 days because they chose to honor the Constitution. He emphasized that Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not opt for bargaining but respected the Constitution and resigned after 13 days. He added that in 1998, the NDA government faced instability, but Vajpayee’s government, dedicated to the spirit of the Constitution, preferred to lose by one vote and resign rather than accept unconstitutional positions. He emphasized that this is their history, values, and tradition. On the other hand, he noted that during the cash-for-votes scandal, money was used to save a minority government, turning the spirit of Indian democracy into a marketplace where votes were bought.
Shri Modi remarked that after 2014, the NDA was given the opportunity to serve, strengthening the Constitution and democracy. He highlighted that they launched a campaign to rid the country of old ailments. The Prime Minister noted that over the past 10 years, they had also made constitutional amendments, for the unity and integrity of the country, for its bright future, and with full dedication to the spirit of the Constitution. The PM remarked that the OBC community had been demanding constitutional status for the OBC Commission for three decades. He highlighted that they amended the Constitution to grant this status, taking pride in doing so. The Prime Minister emphasized that standing with the marginalized sections of society is their duty, which is why the constitutional amendment was made.
The Prime Minister underscored that there was a large section of society that, regardless of caste, could not access opportunities due to poverty and could not progress. Noting that this dissatisfaction was growing, and despite demands, no decisions were made, Shri Modi remarked that they amended the Constitution to provide 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of the general category. He emphasized that this was the first reservation amendment in the country that faced no opposition, was accepted with love by everyone, and was passed unanimously by Parliament. The Prime Minister remarked that this was because it strengthened social unity and aligned with the spirit of the Constitution.
Shri Modi highlighted that they have also made constitutional amendments, but these were to empower women. He remarked that they amended the Constitution for the unity of the country. Shri Modi highlighted that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar\’s Constitution could not fully apply to Jammu and Kashmir due to Article 370, while the Government wanted Dr. Ambedkar\’s Constitution to be implemented in every part of India. He added that they amended the Constitution to strengthen national unity and to pay tribute to Dr. Ambedkar. The Prime Minister remarked that they removed Article 370, and now the Supreme Court of India has also upheld this decision.
The Prime Minister remarked that millions of mothers in the country used to cook on traditional stoves, causing their eyes to turn red from the smoke, which was equivalent to inhaling the smoke of hundreds of cigarettes. He highlighted that this not only affected their eyes but also deteriorated their health. Shri Modi remarked that even after 70 years of independence until 2013, the discussion was about whether to provide nine or six cylinders, while his government ensured the delivery of gas cylinders to every household because they prioritized providing basic amenities to every citizen.
Shri Modi highlighted that the government had ensured rights for transgender individuals under the Indian Constitution and has enacted laws to protect their rights and provide them with a dignified life.
Recalling during his stint as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, there was not a single science stream school in the entire tribal belt from Umargam to Ambaji, the Prime Minister noted that without science stream schools, it was impossible for tribal students to become engineers or doctors. He emphasized that they established science stream schools and universities in the area, addressing the educational needs of the tribal community.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the President for guidance in creating the PM Jan Man Yojana, which focuses on the development of the most backward tribal communities. He highlighted that these small groups, often overlooked in vote politics, have now received attention and support through this scheme. The Prime Minister remarked that he is committed to finding and supporting even the most marginalized individuals.
The Prime Minister said inspired by the spirit of the Constitution for the future of India he wanted to place 11 resolutions before the House. The first resolution is that whether it is a citizen or the government, everyone should perform their duties. The second resolution is that every sector, every society should get the benefit of development, Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. The third resolution is that there should be zero tolerance towards corruption, there should be no social acceptance of the corrupt. The fourth resolution is that the citizens of the country should take pride in following the laws of the country, the rules of the country, and the traditions of the country. The fifth resolution is to get rid of the mentality of slavery, there should be pride in the heritage of the country.
The sixth resolution is that the politics of the country should be freed from nepotism. Seventh resolution, the constitution should be respected, the constitution should not be used as a weapon for political gain. Eighth resolution, in keeping the spirit of the constitution, reservation should not be snatched from those who are getting it and every attempt to give reservation on the basis of religion should be stopped. Ninth resolution, India should become an example for the world in women led development. Tenth resolution, development of the nation through the development of the state, this should be our mantra of development. Eleventh resolution, the aim of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat should be paramount.
The Prime Minister said If we all move forward together with this resolution then with everyone’s efforts, We the people, can fulfil the dream of a developed India. He said when the dream of 140 crore countrymen is fulfilled and the country starts moving with the resolution, then it brings the desired results. Shri Modi said he had immense respect for 140 crore countrymen and faith in their strength, he had immense faith in the youth power of the country, in the women power of the country. Concluding his remarks the Prime Minister said that we should move forward with the resolve that when the country celebrates 100 years of independence in 2047, it will be celebrated as Viksit Bharat.
