The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has formally lodged a complaint against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale following his remarks regarding the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. The Karnataka unit of the IYC Legal Cell filed the complaint at the Sheshadripuram Police Station, alleging that Hosabale's statements incite division and attack the nation's founding values.
Hosabale's comments, made on June 26, 2025, during an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, called for a reconsideration of the terms "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble. He argued that these words were not originally part of the Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar and were forcibly inserted during the Emergency through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976. He suggested a serious national debate is needed on whether these terms align with India's cultural and democratic ethos.
The IYC's complaint asserts that Hosabale's remarks are not merely commentary but an attack on the constitutional ethos. Legal Cell Chairman Sridhar stated that these remarks, made at a politically sensitive event by a high-ranking ideologue, are a cause for concern. The complaint demands legal action against Hosabale for making "unconstitutional, inflammatory, and divisive" comments. Police have acknowledged the complaint and are currently reviewing the matter.
Hosabale's remarks have ignited a political storm, drawing condemnation from opposition parties and civil society organizations, who view it as a direct assault on the Constitution. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described it as a blatant move to undermine secular democracy, accusing the RSS of wanting to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti. Rahul Gandhi stated that the "mask has come off" and that this is an attempt to dismantle the Republic. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the RSS's stance as a communal agenda and a direct threat to India's democratic soul. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah affirmed that no tampering with the Constitution would be allowed, emphasizing the integral nature of these terms to India's national identity.
Conversely, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma supported Hosabale, deeming the inclusion of "secular" and "socialist" a mistake rooted in Western ideologies. The RSS-affiliated weekly 'Organiser' defended Hosabale's statement as an effort to restore the original spirit of the Constitution, arguing that the inclusion of the terms during the Emergency was undemocratic and warrants open public discourse.
Echoing Hosabale's sentiments, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated that the words "socialist," "secular," and "integrity" were added to the Preamble in 1976, during the Emergency. Dhankhar remarked that the addition of these words during the Emergency signaled a betrayal of the mindset of the framers of the Constitution and belittled the civilizational wealth and knowledge of the country. He also pointed out that India is the only country that has altered its Preamble.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar has written to RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat, urging the RSS to uphold secularism and socialism as essential pillars of the nation's integrity. He cautioned against inflaming debates for polarization and emphasized the need for peace, dignity, and progress for all citizens.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) working president and MP Supriya Sule strongly opposed any demands to remove "secular" and "socialist" from the Preamble, asserting the Constitution's supremacy and unalterable nature. She highlighted concerns that slogans suggesting intentions to push constitutional changes were not merely electoral.
