Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Constitution Day celebration organized by the Supreme Court Registry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said colonial mindset is yet to disappear. (ANI)Constitution Day 2021 Latest Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India’s growth story is being disrupted by forces with a colonial mindset, including in the name of freedom of expression. Addressing a Constitution Day event organised by the Supreme Court, he said a colonial mindset still exists, years after the end to colonialism, and these forces are putting obstacles in the path of growth of the developing nations. He said that despite India being the only country that is in the process of achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement ahead of time, various pressures are being created on it in the name of environment. “All this is the result of a colonial mindset,” the PM said.
President Ram Nath Kovind, earlier in the day, addressed the Constitution Day event in the Central Hall of Parliament and said that the development journey of India has been progressing on the strength of our Constitution. “72 years ago, in this Central Hall, the framers of our Constitution had adopted this document for a bright future of independent India. I believe that the development journey of India has been progressing on the strength of our Constitution.”
Meanwhile, setting the stage for a stormy Winter Session of Parliament from Monday, several Opposition parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, are boycotting the event. The coordinated move came even as the Congress decided to reach out to all like-minded parties to ensure Opposition unity in Parliament. Other Opposition parties, including RJD, DMK and the Left, are also expected to stay away from the event.
On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950. While January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day, since 2015, November 26 has been observed as the Constitution Day of India, or Samvidhan Divas.
Indian Constitution Day 2021: Other Opposition parties, including RJD, DMK and the Left, are also expected to stay away from the event.
Observing that ‘Laxman Rekha’ of separation of power is “sacrosanct”, Chief Justice of India N V Ramana Friday said at times courts are compelled to intervene in the interest of justice and the intention is to nudge the executive, and not to usurp its role and they should not be projected as judiciary targeting another institution.
The CJI warned against any such attempts to project judicial interventions as targeting of the executive and said that it was “totally misplaced” and would prove detrimental to the health of democracy if encouraged.
Speaking at the Constitution Day celebration organised by the Supreme Court registry, Justice Ramana also raised the issue of attacks on the judges and judiciary especially in social media, and said that they appeared to be “sponsored and synchronised”. Read More
The Congress on Friday said it did not participate in the Constitution Day event in the Central Hall of Parliament in protest and to remind the country that the Constitution is not being respected and is being undermined instead.
Senior spokesperson of the Congress Anand Sharma said the protest was against the "authoritarian" functioning of the BJP government as laws are enacted bypassing parliamentary scrutiny and parliamentary democracy is insulted.
"Our protest today is based on fundamental principles. We have protested to remind the country that the Constitution is not being respected, the Constitution is being undermined, parliamentary democracy is being undermined and insulted with the enactment of laws bypassing scrutiny which is creating enormous problems, because each law enacted by Parliament impacts the masses," he told reporters.
The Congress and several other parties, including the Left parties, TMC, NCP, DMK, Shiv Sena, IUML, RSP and the RJD, did not attend the Constitution Day event in Parliament's Central Hall. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Friday urged the people to understand the importance of the Constitution in the nation's governance, underscoring that the Preamble is its soul.
Presiding over the celebrations of 'Samvidhan Divas', known as Constitutional Day, held at Raj Bhavan here, the Governor underlined the great contributions of leaders towards making of the Constitution after the country became free. "The task was to create a document that could address the present and future need of the rich diversity of India while retaining the basic oneness of the country," he said.
The event was held as part of celebrations of 75th year of India's Independence, 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsov', a Raj Bhavan release said.
Ravi urged the people to understand the Constitution's importance in the nation's governance. (PTI)
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said it is imperative the three organs of the State -- Legislative, Executive and Judiciary -- work together to ensure social, economic and political justice for the citizens.
Although the Constitution is built on the principle of separation of power, it also warrants a harmonious relationship in the functioning of the three organs of the state, he said.
Speaking at a Constitution Day event here organised by the Supreme Court, Rijiju hailed the judiciary for keeping the doors of justice open during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has hard-hit the justice delivery mechanism, he noted adding the courts rose to the occasion and made use of innovative Information Communication Technology to keep the doors of access to justice open for all. (PTI)
Asserting that colonial mindset still exists, PM Modi said the greatest example is how environmental issues are hijacked by others to deny paths they took to developing nations. He said that with regard to absolute cumulative emissions, developed nations have caused 15 times more emissions than India since 1850, and "still India is lectured on environmental conservation".
Prime Minister Modi said that it is unfortunate that obstacles are created in the path of development of the nation, sometimes in the name of freedom of expression, while at times, through other means. He said that India is being judged upon parameters of other nations, without knowing the situation or the aspirations of our youth. (ANI)
Hundreds of years of dependence pushed India into several problems. The India that was once called a golden bird was suffering from poverty, starvation, among other issues. In that background, the Constitution has always helped us in taking the nation forward, PM Modi further said.
"If we compare with other countries, then the nations that became independent around the same time as India are way ahead of us today. It means that a lot of things still need to be done. We have to reach the goal together," he said. (ANI)
Government and judiciary are born out of Constitution, like twins, and they complement each other even while being different, PM Modi said at the event.
Due to colonial mindset, obstacles are put in the development of our own country, including in the name of freedom of expression, PM Modi said. He added that roadblocks are being created on path of growth of developing nations due to colonial mindset.
"Constitution is our greatest strength to remove obstacles being created by colonial mindset," Modi said.
"It's a reality that even after decades post-Independence, a large section of people in the country had to suffer exclusion; crores of those people who didn't even have a toilet at their house, who were living in the dark in the absence of electricity, who were without water," PM Modi said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Constitution Day celebration organized by the Supreme Court Registry.
"Investing oneself in understanding their problems, their pain to make their lives easier - I consider this the real honour of the Constitution. I'm satisfied that in line with this sentiment of the Constitution, a vigorous drive is going on to convert exclusion into inclusion, " he added. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday urged people to protect the egalitarian ideals, secular values and democratic spirit which the Constitution upholds.
In a tweet on the occasion of Constitution Day, the Marxist veteran said the Constitution of the country encompasses the lofty ideals upheld by the freedom fighters.
'Our Constitution encompasses the lofty ideals upheld by our freedom fighters and has laid the foundation of the Indian Republic. As responsible citizens, we should pledge to protect the egalitarian ideals, secular values and democratic spirit it upholds,' Vijayan tweeted.
Lawbreakers should not be lawmakers, said the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh on Friday while expressing concern over the rise in the number of MPs and MLAs charged with serious criminal cases which he claimed is 43 per cent now as compared to 23 in 2004.
Singh, who was speaking at the Constitution Day function organised by the SCBA in the apex court's lawns here, said that everyone should introspect to ensure that the Constitution remains of the same relevance for which it was drafted for the people of this country.
“One very important change which is required is that lawbreakers should not be lawmakers,” he said emphasizing that the statistics “unfortunately” prove otherwise. (PTI)
Tearing into the Opposition parties that boycotted the Constitution Day celebrations in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said “family-run parties” that have lost democratic qualities themselves cannot be expected to defend the country’s democracy.
Speaking at the event, Modi asserted that the country is “not ready” to listen to those who “question” the need to earmark a day to celebrate the adoption of the Constitution which has the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar attached to it.
“When a political party loses its own democratic character, how can it protect democracy? Today, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, look at every corner of India, the country is moving towards a crisis that should worry every individual who respects the Constitution and that comes from dynastic parties. Political parties – party for the family, party by the family, and I need not elaborate. This is against the principles of the Constitution, quite opposite to what the Constitution tells us,” the PM said. Read More
Chief Justice of India N V Ramana Friday called upon lawyers to protect the institution of judiciary from “motivated and targeted attacks”.
“...I want to tell all of you that you must assist judges and the institution. We are all ultimately part of one large family. Protect the institution from motivated and targeted attacks. Do not shy away from standing up for what is right, and against what is wrong,” he said while speaking at the Constitution Day celebrations organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
The CJI said the most important feature of the Constitution is that it provides a framework for debate. “Perhaps, the most important feature of the Indian Constitution is the fact that it provides a framework for debate. It is through such debate and discussion that the nation ultimately progresses, evolves and achieves higher levels of welfare for the people,” he said. Read More
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Modi government is committed to the welfare and rights of every section of the country by following the footsteps of B R Ambedkar, and described the Constitution as the soul of democracy. He said this on the occasion of Constitution Day, which is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
"The Constitution is the soul of democracy as well as the basis of unity and progress of India. On Constitution Day, I bow to the architect of the Indian Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar and all the great men," Shah said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The Modi government is committed to the welfare and rights of every section of the country by following the footsteps of Babasaheb," he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday greeted the people of the country on Constitution Day, and said it is the responsibility of all to ensure that justice and rights are equal for all.
Constitution Day is celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.
'Justice and rights should be equal for all so that the Constitution does not become just a paper, it is the responsibility of all of us,' Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Expressing "pain" over opposition parties boycotting the Constitution Day event organised by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday, Speaker Om Birla said staying away from such non-partisan events held by Parliament is not good for the health of democracy.
Around 15 opposition parties, including the Congress, boycotted the programme organised by the Lok Sabha to celebrate the Samvidhan Samman Divas.
Besides the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) stayed away from the event.
Speaking to reporters after the programme, Birla said, "This culture of boycotting non-partisan events, which are of national interest, is not good for the health of democracy." He said he will sit with the representatives from the opposition parties and discuss how it can be ensured that all political parties attend such events.
"I am deeply hurt as the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha that several political parties boycotted the event organised by Parliament to commemorate the Constitution Day," Birla said. (PTI)
CJI NV Ramana on Friday paid homage to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives and the makers of the Constitution. Speaking at the Constitution Day program organized by the SC Bar Association, the CJI said, 'It's also important to celebrate the citizenry of independent India.'
President Kovind further said, "In our country, not only women were given the right to vote from the beginning, but many women were members of the Constituent Assembly. They also made an unprecedented contribution in the making of the Constitution."
President Kovind said, "72 years ago, in this Central Hall, the framers of our Constitution had adopted this document for a bright future of independent India. I believe that the development journey of India has been progressing on the strength of our Constitution."
Now President Ram Nath Kovind leads the nation in reading the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
Rajya Sabha Chairman & VP M Venkaiah Naidu said, "The Preamble summarises the philosophy of the Constitution in which people preferred our country to be a democratic republic. It has been our firm belief that people have been at the centre of our development. During the 254th Session of Rajya Sabha, the productivity dipped to 29.60%. This means that the Rajya Sabha has lost about 70% of the functional time. All concerned need to ponder over the fact of rendering legislature dysfunctional."
Party for the family, by the family...do I need to say more? If a party is run by one family for many generations, then, it isn't good for a healthy democracy, says PM Modi.
During this 'Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', it is necessary for us to move forward on the path of duty so that our rights are protected, said PM Modi during an address at the Parliament.
Pm Modi said, "Our Constitution binds our diverse country. It was drafted after many hindrances and united the princely states in the country. Constitution Day should have been celebrated each year after 1950 to educate all about what went into the making of the Constitution. But some people did not do so. This day should also be celebrated to evaluate whether what we do is right or not."
PM Modi said, "Look at dynastic political parties from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, this is against the democratic spirit. If party is run for generations by a family and entire party system is with a family then that is biggest problem for healthy democracy."
Addressing the Parliament on Constitution Day, PM Modi said, "Constitution Day is the day to salute this House, where many of India's leaders brainstormed to give us the Constitution of India. We also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and all those who fought during India's independence struggle."
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said, "The Constitution of India is like a modern version of 'The Gita' for us that motivates us to work for the nation. If each one of us commits to working for the country then we can build 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat'."
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other political leaders to take part in Constitution Day celebrations at the Central Hall of the Parliament.
Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "Congress and 14 Opposition parties boycotting the Constitution Day celebrations in Parliament is disrespect to the Constitution of India. This proves that Congress can only respect leaders from the Nehru family and no other leader incl BR Ambedkar."
On Constitution Day, BJP President JP Nadda said, "We all remember Bharat Ratna BR Ambedkar for his contribution to independent India and for giving the Constitution of India which we have today. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India."
"BR Ambedkar ji emphasised on equality, where democracy grows with the participation of everybody. On Constitution Day we must read the Preamble carefully. Governments may come and go, but our fundamental rights in a democracy must flourish," Nadda added.
On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.
While January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day, since 2015, November 26 has been observed as the Constitution Day of India, or Samvidhan Divas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter today, “We began to observe 26th November as Constitution Day in 2015. Since then, people across India have been marking it with great fervour. This is a day to express gratitude to the makers of our Constitution and to reiterate our commitment to building the India of their dreams.” Read more
Sources said the party will seek discussions, while adjourning all business, on the rise in prices of essential commodities, demand the resignation of MoS Ajay Mishra, whose son has been arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri deaths, and ask the Government to announce Rs 4 lakh each as financial assistance to the families of Covid victims.
Besides Kharge and Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by senior leaders A K Antony, Anand Sharma, K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Gaurav Gogoi, Manickam Tagore and Kodikunnil Suresh.
On Constitution Day, there was consensus at the meeting that the party should boycott the event. Almost the entire Opposition had earlier this year boycotted the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
“We won’t participate. This government does not believe in democracy. They are hell bent on dismantling each and every institution of democratic India. Moreover, they have not invited Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge to be on the podium. The office of Leader of the Opposition is also an institution. This government does not respect that also,” Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
Significantly, the party will demand a “legal guarantee” for MSP. The demand will be for a separate law for MSP, a party leader said. At least two leaders told The Indian Express that a legal backing for MSP is a “tricky issue” and the party is yet to crystalise its position.
The idea, sources said, is to ensure that Opposition parties take a coordinated position in Parliament at least on issues on which they hold a common view.
The parliamentary strategy group meeting also identified the issues to be raised in the House, including the repeal of the three contentious farm laws on the first working day of the session.
Setting the stage for a stormy Winter Session of Parliament from Monday, several Opposition parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, have decided to boycott the Constitution Day event to be addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind in the Central Hall of Parliament Friday.
The coordinated move came even as the Congress decided to reach out to all like-minded parties to ensure Opposition unity in Parliament. Other Opposition parties, including RJD, DMK and the Left, are also expected to stay away from the event. Read more
Hello and welcome to our Constitution Day blog. President Ram Nath Kovind will address the Constitution Day event in the Central Hall of Parliament Friday. But Congress and TMC among other Opposition parties will boycott the event. Follow to get all the latest updates here