Shiv Sena demands deletion of 'secular' and 'socialist' words from Constitution

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena has openly stated that the party feels that there is nothing wrong in dropping of the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the constitution’s preamble as done in an advertisement issued by the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry on republic day. The Sena has demanded that these two words should be officially dropped from the preamble and the constitution thru and amendment.

Shiv Sena MP and editor of the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, Sanjay Raut issued a statement on behalf of the Sena on Wednesday claiming Sena founder Bal Thackeray always envisaged a Hindu Rashtra and there was no space secularism in Thackeray’s mind so the party believes that the words secular and socialist should be dropped.

"As India got independence, this country was divided, it was made clear that Pakistan was created for Muslims and what remained was a country for the Hindus. Where is the question of secular state? The words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ were added thru an amendment by Indira Gandhi during emergency," Raut said.

The Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP reacted sharply to the statement issued by Sena and accused the BJP and Sena of running a hidden agenda. "The voters of this country were promised development and good governance by the BJP. Now a hidden saffron agenda is being taken up by both Sena and BJP" Congress general secretary Gurudas Kamat said.