Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday strongly criticised the 1976 amendment to the Indian Constitution’s Preamble, calling the addition of the words “Socialist, Secular and Integrity” during the Emergency a “sacrilege” against the spirit of Sanatana Dharma and an affront to the soul of the Constitution.
Speaking at an event at the Vice-President’s Enclave to mark the presentation of the first copy of Ambedkar’s Messages, compiled by former Karnataka MLC D.S. Veeraiah, Dhankhar expressed deep concern over what he described as an unjust and improper alteration to the Constitution's most sacrosanct portion.
“The Preamble is the seed and soul of the Constitution,” he stated. “It is not changeable, not alterable. Yet, during the darkest chapter in Indian democracy, when people were imprisoned and their Fundamental Rights suspended, the Constitution’s Preamble was altered. What a travesty of justice!”
Dhankhar remarked that such changes were carried out at a time when the very spirit of democracy was suppressed, and the people — from whom the Constitution derives its authority — were silenced. “These words have been added as nasoor (festering wounds). It is sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatana,” he said, warning that such actions could lead to existential challenges for the country.
Referring to the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, passed during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure, the Vice-President asserted that the modification represented a betrayal of India’s civilizational values. “Except Bharat, no other country has amended the Preamble of its Constitution,” he said. “We changed something that should have remained untouched.”
Citing landmark Supreme Court rulings, including the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) and the Golaknath case (1967), Dhankhar invoked judicial observations on the sanctity of the Preamble.
Quoting Justice H.R. Khanna, he noted that the Preamble serves as a guiding light for interpreting the Constitution and draws its authority directly from the people. “Justice Hidayatullah called it the embodiment of our ideals and aspirations — not just a flourish of words,” Dhankhar added.
The Vice-President went on to describe the amendment as an act done “casually, farcically, and with no sense of propriety.” He highlighted comments by Justices Hegde, Mukherjee, Shelat and Grover, all of whom underscored the unalterable nature of the Preamble and its foundational importance.
Reflecting on the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Dhankhar said, “Dr Ambedkar lives in our hearts, dominates our minds and touches our souls. He was not merely a politician, but a visionary statesman. His contributions must be honoured not only by Parliamentarians and legislators but by every citizen.”
He expressed sorrow that Ambedkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna only posthumously, saying, “My heart wept. Why so late? Why after his death?”
Calling on all Indians to reflect on Ambedkar’s messages, the Vice-President said the compilation presented today should be read at the family level and especially by children. Quoting Ambedkar’s final speech in the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949, he recalled his prescient warning about placing communal and political loyalties above national interests.
“Ambedkar said: ‘Will history repeat itself?’ and ‘If the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy again.’ These words must be framed and read daily,” Dhankhar said, urging the nation to remain vigilant and put India above all else.
He also raised questions over disruptions in Parliament, asking why the “temples of democracy are sacriledged and ravaged by disruption.” In his view, honouring Ambedkar’s messages would help restore dignity and decorum to India’s democratic institutions.
Asserting that the Preamble should have been respected rather than “tweaked, altered, and decimated,” Dhankhar concluded that the constitutional alteration during the Emergency was more than just a legal issue — it was an ethical and civilizational wound.
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