Congress gifts copy of Constitution to PM Modi
NEW DELHI : Amid the ongoing debate over the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, the Congress party has gifted a copy of the Constitution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of India’s 71st Republic Day The Congress also shared the screenshot of the order which was marked for delivery to E-Block of Central Secretariat on a Pay on Delivery (POD) mode.
Various protests across the country including agitation at New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh have been marked with public readings of the preamble –in a symbolic bid to urge the government to roll back the contentious legislation.
The dig encapsulated the opposition’s allegations of the government violating the Constitution through the Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA. Most of the politicians, civil society and artistes who are opposing the CAA, read the Constitution on Republic Day.
“Dear PM, The Constitution is reaching you soon. When you get time off from dividing the country, please do read it. Regards, Congress,” the party tweeted along with the snapshot of an Amazon receipt, which indicated that the copy would be delivered to the Central Secretariat.
The Congress tweeted the videos of party president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reading the Preamble at a recent protest assembly in Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Preamble is an introductory statement of the Constitution which explains its philosophy and objectives. It states: “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all.
Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation. In our constituent assembly this 26th day of November 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution”.
On January 26, 2020, India celebrated its 71st Republic Day with a grand parade exhibiting its military prowess and cultural diversity. The chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations 2020 was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Meanwhile, In Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to take a pledge to protect the Constitution and uphold its principles. “On #RepublicDay, let us pledge to protect our #Constitution and uphold the principles of sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, as enshrined in the Preamble,” her tweet read.
Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, hoisted the tricolour and read the Preamble of the Constitution in the old city of Hyderabad. In Kerala, the ruling CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front formed a 620-km human chain from the northern to the southern part of the state, demanding withdrawal of the CAA.
(With Agency Inputs from West Bengal and Kerala).
