Modi praises Nehru in Parliament secularism debate

The government, which is focused on pushing crucial legislation like the key reform measure the Goods and Services Tax bill, has said it is “ready to discuss all issues including that of the so-called intolerance though it falls in the domain of states”.

Modi also acknowledged the contribution of his predecessors and lauded the role of the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in drafting the Objectives Resolution which formed the basis of the Constitution. Taking a dig at present day “chunavi dalbhakti” (electoral interests), he said, it was hard to make a flawless legislation for want of consensus on a word or even the colour of a picture. The tone of Modi’s reply to the two-day debate on the Constitution was markedly different from that of his earlier speeches in which he sparred with the Opposition in the House.

Modi acknowledged the speech on Thursday by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “Our focus must be on how our Constitution can help the Dalits, the marginalised and the poor”, he said.

“There should be consensus”.

Months after the government faced criticism over the RSS chief’s call for a committee to look into who should have quotas and for how long, Mr. Modi said that it was “our duty” to assure the underprivileged of the opportunities the Constitution provided them.

This, of course, comes as a reaction to the intolerance debate and minority community voices flagging the issue.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh opened a can of worms in Parliament by saying the architect of the Constitution had never thought of putting the term secularism in the Preamble. “I congratulate you”, he said to applause. “Such was the greatness of Pandit Nehru”, he said.

“Wielding broom is considered as a menial job in our country, we all know how people who do this job are looked down upon”.

He said India’s inner strength and the idea of India was reflected in the age-old slogans like: “Vasudev Kutumbukam, Satyamev Jayate and Sarvapanth Sambhav….”

Speaking in the backdrop of the Opposition’s onslaught over “intolerance”, Modi said diversity was India’s strength and it needed to be nurtured. Answering questions raised by Congress over holding of the discussion now instead of January 26 when the Indian Republic came into being, Modi said, “26 November is a historical occasion and our intention is not to downplay the importance of January 26”. He lauded BR Ambedkar for having provided for reservations for deprived sections of society in the Constitution.