New Delhi: After ally Shiv Sena demanded "permanent deletion" of the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution, the government has backed the idea of a nationwide debate, adding a new dimension to the controversy that began with its Republic Day ad.
"These words were added during the Emergency. If there is a debate in the country on these words, then why are we shying away from it?" Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.
On Republic Day, Monday, newspapers had government ads showing the Constitution's preamble with the words "secular" and "socialist" missing.
"I want to ask Congress leaders, were our leaders less secular before that? Did Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first PM) lack an understanding of secularism that it was not in the preamble? The words were added during the Emergency," said Mr Prasad, the Communications Minister.
Sources say the government plans to continue using it in its ads, despite the outrage.
He also argued that "there is no place for secularism in India", which he says is a "Hindu Rashtra."
But the ad raised eyebrows at a time when the Narendra Modi government has been accused by opposition parties of not following secular principles.
"These words were added during the Emergency. If there is a debate in the country on these words, then why are we shying away from it?" Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.
On Republic Day, Monday, newspapers had government ads showing the Constitution's preamble with the words "secular" and "socialist" missing.
"I want to ask Congress leaders, were our leaders less secular before that? Did Jawaharlal Nehru (India's first PM) lack an understanding of secularism that it was not in the preamble? The words were added during the Emergency," said Mr Prasad, the Communications Minister.
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Sources say the government plans to continue using it in its ads, despite the outrage.
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He also argued that "there is no place for secularism in India", which he says is a "Hindu Rashtra."
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But the ad raised eyebrows at a time when the Narendra Modi government has been accused by opposition parties of not following secular principles.
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