BJP MP introduces bill to remove ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from Constitution Preamble

New Delhi: A major political debate erupted on Friday after BJP MP Bhim Singh introduced a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha seeking removal of the words “secular” and “socialist” from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

Singh argued that these words were not part of the original Constitution adopted in 1949 and were inserted “undemocratically” during the Emergency. Presenting the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025, Singh said that the terms create “confusion” and do not reflect the ideas of the framers.

He said the original Constitution, in force since 1950, did not contain these words. They were added by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976, at a time when most opposition leaders were jailed.

Speaking to PTI, Singh claimed that the amendment was carried out without meaningful discussion in Parliament. “All opposition leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and George Fernandes were in jail. Democracy was being strangled. In such a situation, Indira Gandhi added these two words,” he said.

He cited debates from the Constituent Assembly, noting that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had opposed adding “secular” to the Preamble, arguing that the Constitution itself ensured a secular structure. Regarding “socialist”, Ambedkar.

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