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Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the Congress party of tampering with the Indian Constitution, especially its preamble, during the emergency era. Addressing a Constitution Day ceremony at Lok Bhawan, Lucknow, he said, “The original Constitution drafted by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar did not contain the words ‘secular’ or ‘socialist’. These were inserted during the emergency and thus betray the spirit of the Constitution.”

Adityanath’s comments came a day after the Supreme Court upheld the 42nd Amendment of 1976, which added the terms ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’ to the preamble. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar noted that there was no ‘legitimate reason or justification to challenge the terms’. “If the retrospective arguments are accepted, they would apply to all amendments. Parliament has the power under Article 368 to amend the Constitution, including the preamble,” the CJI said.

The CM asserted that the Indian Constitution, framed under the leadership of Dr Ambedkar, remains a unifying force for India’s 140 crore citizens. He called it a legacy that guarantees justice, equality and brotherhood. “The Constitution guarantees equal voting rights to all, irrespective of caste, opinion or religion – a testament to the vision of Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly,” he said.

Adityanath further accused the Congress of eroding public confidence in democratic institutions. “Their actions, both during the 1975 emergency and now, reflect a dictatorial and fascist mentality. They have repeatedly undermined democratic values ​​and attempted to deprive marginalized groups of their constitutional rights,” he said.

The CM added that the debates in the Constituent Assembly played an important role in shaping the Constitution. We must draw inspiration from these historic deliberations to uphold its principles.”

Adityanath called for Constitution Day to be more than a formal celebration and urged that it be an awareness campaign. “This is a time to educate citizens about their rights and obligations. A strong and prosperous India can only be achieved when citizens fulfill their responsibilities and exercise their rights responsibly,” he said.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for increasing the significance of Constitution Day. “Since November 26, 2015, Constitution Day has been celebrated nationwide to honor the legacy of Dr. Ambedkar and the ideals of the Constitution,” Adityanath noted.

The CM also lauded the 2019 Civic Duties Session in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and described it as a crucial step in reinforcing the importance of rights and responsibilities. “The Constitution is the most robust in the world. It is our duty to protect its principles while embracing the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’,” he added.