New Delhi: After Dattatreya Hosabale of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined the bandwagon demanding a rethink on the relevance of the words secularism and socialism in the Constitution.
These words, according to the senior BJP leader, were not part of India’s civilisational ethos and had been inserted during the 1975 Emergency.
“Secularism is not the core of our culture. That is why there should indeed be a discussion about it. The word ‘secularism’ was added during the Emergency—there should be deliberation on removing it,” Chouhan said to a question on whether these terms should be removed from the Preamble.
In Varanasi, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare also described India as “an ancient and great nation” founded on the principle of Sarva Dharma Sambhav—equal respect for all faiths.
He emphasised that India, as a civilisation, has long upheld religious harmony and mutual respect across traditions.
“This is the India that, not today but thousands of years ago, said ‘Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti’—Truth is one, the wise call it by many names,” he said, quoting ancient scripture to underline India’s pluralistic tradition.
“This is the India that says ‘Munde munde matir bhinna’—every mind is different. It respects differing thoughts and forms of worship.”
Citing Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech in Chicago, Chouhan added, “No matter which path you follow, ultimately all lead to the same supreme truth.”
A day earlier, Hosabale had forcefully argued for reviewing the inclusion of secularism and socialism in the Constitution. The RSS general secretary said the two terms were inserted into the Preamble during the Emergency—bypassing public debate—and were not part of the Constitution originally drafted by B.R.Ambedkar.
Chouhan also questioned the relevance of socialism in contemporary India, asserting that Indian philosophy already embodies egalitarian values through its ancient teachings.
“Atmavat sarvabhuteshu—to see oneself in all beings—is India’s fundamental thought. The entire world is one family—this is India’s spirit. Live and let live, let there be goodwill among living beings, let the world be well,” he said.
“Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah—may all be happy, may all be free of illness—this is India’s true sentiment. That’s why we don’t need socialism,” Chouhan said.
“We’ve been saying it for years—Sia Ram may sab jag jani—see everyone as one and the same. There is no need for imposed socialism.”
The nation, the Union Minister said, must seriously reflect on this (removal of secularism and socialism from the Constitution.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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