Union Minister Proposes Removal of 'Secular' and 'Socialist' from Constitution

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stirred controversy by proposing the removal of the terms 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Indian Constitution. His remarks, made during a commemorative event in Varanasi, align with a recent call from the RSS for a review of these terms in the Preamble. Chouhan argues that the essence of Indian culture lies in equal respect for all religions, rather than secularism. This proposal has drawn criticism from various political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who view it as an attempt to undermine the Constitution. The debate continues as the Supreme Court previously rejected petitions challenging these terms. Read on for more insights into this developing story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 28, 2025, 16:41 IST

Controversial Remarks by Union Minister

On Friday, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed his belief that the terms “secular” and “socialist” do not represent the essence of Indian culture, advocating for their removal from the Constitution.

This statement from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader follows a recent call by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for a reassessment of these terms in the Preamble.

The RSS serves as the ideological parent of the ruling BJP.

Notably, the terms “socialist” and “secular” were not included in the original Constitution of 1950; they were incorporated later in 1976 through the 42nd amendment.

Chouhan made these remarks during an event in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

In a video posted on social media, he stated, “The core of Indian culture is equal respect for all religions, not secularism.”

Regarding socialism, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister remarked that the belief in treating everyone equally is a fundamental Indian principle.

“There is no necessity for socialism here,” he asserted. “We have long maintained that everyone should be treated equally. Therefore, the term socialism is also unnecessary.”

In Jammu, Union Minister Jitendra Singh also voiced his support for the RSS's position.

He stated that “any right-thinking citizen” would concur that these terms were added under extraordinary circumstances and were not part of the original Constitution, as reported by a news outlet.

Singh further noted that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar designed “one of the best Constitutions in the world,” questioning the rationale behind the addition of these terms if they did not align with his vision.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the RSS for its push to reevaluate these terms, asserting that the Hindutva organization’s true intentions had been revealed once again.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also condemned the RSS's proposal, claiming it reveals the organization's long-standing aim to undermine the Constitution and transform India into a Hindu Rashtra as part of its Hindutva agenda.

In 2015, a controversy arose when advertisements from the BJP-led Union government on Republic Day omitted these two words from the Preamble.

In September 2023, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the terms were absent from the Preamble in the copies of the Constitution distributed to MPs in the new Parliament building.

In November, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking the removal of these terms from the Preamble, stating there was no valid reason to challenge the constitutional amendment decades later.