New Delhi: A Republic Day advertisement, featuring the Preamble of the Constitution, issued by the Union ministry of Information & Broadcasting caused an online uproar as the words ‘secular' 'socialist' were missing.
The ad used the image of the original Preamble as watermark. It read, “We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, democratic Republic”.
The Constitution, as we know it today, begins with the words: "We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic ...”.
The words socialist and secular were added in 1976 as a part of the 42nd amendment of the Constitution.
Union minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore tweeted on Tuesday evening: "This is the original Preamble. The words 'Socialist' and 'Secular' were added in 1976."
"The controversy surrounding the ad is uncalled for. Photo of original Preamble was a way of honouring founding fathers of the Constitution” he added.
A tweet by Congress leader Manish Tewari had ignited the row. He pointed out the omission and said that it was a prelude to substitution with "communal & corporate".
By the time the BJP led government could clarify, an online petition condemning the "mischievous advertisement" had gathered nearly 750 signatures.
