Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses Lok Sabha during special discussion on 75th anniversary of adoption of Constitution
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Posted On: 14 DEC 2024 11:59PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha special discussion on 75th anniversary of adoption of Constitution today. 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.
Shri Modi emphasized that at the core of every major policy decision is women and expressed happiness that it was a great coincidence that during the completion of 75 years of constitution, the post of President of India was held by a tribal woman. He added that it was a true expression of the spirit of our constitution. The Prime Minister highlighted that the representation and the contribution of women is constantly increasing in the parliament as well as in the council of Ministers. “The representation and contribution of women, be it in the field of social, political, education, sports or any other, has been bringing pride to the country”, exclaimed Shri Modi and that every Indian was proud of women’s contributions in the field of science and technology, especially in the space sector. He added that the Constitution was the greatest inspiration for this.
Reiterating that India was progressing rapidly, Shri Modi remarked that soon India will be the third largest economy in the world. He added that it was the combined resolve of 140 crore Indians to ensure that India is developed by 2047. He further added that Unity of India was the most important necessity for this resolution to be achieved. The Prime Minister noted that our Constitution is also the foundation of unity of India. Recalling that the process of framing the constitution comprised great freedom fighters, authors, thinkers, social activists, educationists and professionals from other diverse fields, Shri Modi said that all of them were highly sensitive of the fact of Unity of India.
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."
The Prime Minister emphasized that providing free healthcare to the poor and common citizens significantly enhances their ability to fight poverty. He highlighted that while healthcare is accessible where they work, it should also be available when they are away and facing life-threatening situations. The Prime Minister remarked that to uphold the principle of national unity, the government introduced the "One Nation, One Health Card" initiative through Ayushman Bharat. He noted that even a person from a remote area of Bihar working in Pune can receive necessary medical services with an Ayushman card.
Shri Modi highlighted that there were times when one part of the country had electricity while another part was in darkness due to supply issues. He remarked that during the tenures of the previous governments, India was often criticized globally for its power shortages. The Prime Minister emphasized that to uphold the spirit of the Constitution and the mantra of unity, the government implemented the "One Nation, One Grid" initiative. He noted that today, electricity can be seamlessly supplied to every corner of India.
Touching upon the infrastructure development in the country, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government is focusing on balanced development to strengthen national unity. He added that whether it is the North East, Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan regions, or the desert areas, the government had undertaken efforts to empower infrastructure comprehensively. He noted that this initiative aims to eliminate any sense of distance due to lack of development, thereby fostering unity.
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