Reacting over Congress’ allegation that the word ‘secular’ has been removed from the preamble of the Constitution, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said here on Thursday that the “Constitution can’t be changed this easily.”
“The Constitution can’t be changed this easily. As far as I am aware, it requires a two-thirds majority,” Abdullah said.
He further said there has been no vote in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha to remove any word from the Constitution.
“As far as I know, to remove any word from the Constitution, there has been no vote in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has said in justification that because this was a historic function, they gave a historic Constitution to everyone. If this is true then we don’t have any issue but if this is a manipulation of the Constitution then it is not right for the nation,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, raised concerns over the alleged attack on the Constitution by saying that new copies of the Constitution that were handed to the politicians on the opening day of the new Parliament building don’t have the words ‘socialist secular’ in the Preamble.
“The new copies of the Constitution that were given to us today (19th September), the one we held in our hands and entered (the new Parliament building), its Preamble doesn’t have the words ‘socialist secular’.”
He further added, “We know that the words were added after an amendment in 1976, but if someone gives us the Constitution today and it doesn’t have those words, it is a matter of concern.”
He alleged, “Their intention is suspicious. It has been done cleverly. It is a matter of concern for me.” (ANI)
