In a scathing critique of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the change to the Preamble—adding the words “Socialist”, “Secular”, and “Integrity”—was effected during the darkest period of Indian democracy, when the entire political class was behind bars. Speaking at the ceremonial presentation of the books Ambedkar’s Messages and Ambedkar ke Sandesh, authored by D.S. Veeraiah, the Vice-President called the amendment a travesty, saying it violated the very soul of the Constitution.
He said, “The Preamble of any Constitution is its soul. The Preamble has been imparted by we, the people of India. Except Bharat, nobody’s Constitution’s preamble has undergone change.
The Vice-President was addressing at the ceremonial presentation of the first copies of the books ‘Ambedkar’s Messages’ and ‘Ambedkar ke Sandesh’, authored by D.S. Veeraiah, a distinguished Member twice of Karnataka Legislative Council.
Hon'ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the gathering at the ceremonial presentation of the first copies of the books 'Ambedkar’s Messages' and 'Ambedkar ke Sandesh', authored by Shri D.S. Veeraiah Ji, at Vice-President's Enclave today. @DS_Veeraiah… pic.twitter.com/4uDljJ5O1C
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) June 28, 2025
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged the nation to reflect on the painstaking work of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the wisdom of the founding fathers in framing the original Preamble of the Constitution. He noted that no other country has altered its Preamble, but in Bharat, a significant change was made during a time of great national distress.
The Preamble of any Constitution is its soul. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is unique.
The Preamble has been imparted by 'We, the People of India'.Except Bharat, no other Constitution's Preamble has undergone change, and why? The Preamble is not changeable. The… pic.twitter.com/JZo13GI9ZN
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) June 28, 2025
Describing the 42nd Amendment as a “travesty of justice,” Dhankhar said the change came during the 22-month-long Emergency proclaimed on 25th June 1975, when “We the People”—the true source of power—were virtually enslaved, with many of the nation’s finest voices languishing in jails and denied access to the judicial system.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar reflected on the Emergency period as a time when “we the people were bleeding in heart and soul,” plunged into darkness and disconnected from the spirit of the Constitution. He reminded the audience of the painstaking effort that went into drafting the Constitution—nearly three years of dedicated work by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his team, who studied global systems and drew from Bharat’s 5,000-year-old civilisational legacy.
He emphasised that nationally spirited members of the Constituent Assembly engaged in intense debate, dialogue, discourse, and deliberation—never disruption—to devotionally frame the Constitution for the nation.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar reminded the audience that Dr. Ambedkar’s navigation of the Constitution was not easy. “There were contentious issues, there were divisive issues. To unite the minds of founding fathers was not easy,” he said, adding that Ambedkar resolved these challenges not through confrontation but through consensualism, which was the dominant approach.
We are changing the soul of the Constitution by this flash of words, added during the period of Emergency — the darkest period for the Constitution of the country.
These words have been added as नासूर. These words will create upheaval. Addition of these words in the Preamble… pic.twitter.com/cg2cmzN0r7
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) June 28, 2025
He stressed that contemporary times must heed the sage voice of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and urged reflection on “why our temples of democracy are sacrileged, why our temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption.” These, he said, are institutions where “prayers of the people have to be heard.”
Highlighting his long association with the judiciary, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised its vital role as a pillar of democracy and drew attention to how the highest courts have interpreted the Preamble. Referring to landmark cases, he noted that two Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court—one comprising 11 judges in I.C. Golaknath vs State of Punjab and another with 13 judges in Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala —had deeply reflected on the significance of the Preamble and reaffirmed its foundational value.
In Golaknath, the issue came up about Preamble, and Justice Hidayatullah, reflecting on the situation, stated explicitly, “The Preamble to our constitution contains in a nutshell its ideals and aspirations. It is not a mere flourish of words, but embodies the objectives with the constitution seeks to achieve.”
During emergency, the darkest period of Indian democracy, when people were behind the bars, fundamental rights were suspended. In the name of ‘We the People’ who were enslaved, we just go for what? Just flourish of words? It is to be deprecated beyond words. In Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala 1973, 13-judge bench, the judges focused and deeply reflected on Preamble of the Constitution.
The celebrated judge, Justice H.R. Khanna, “The Preamble serves as a guide to the interpretation of the constitution, and indicates the source from which the constitution derives its authority, namely, the people of India” We are changing the soul of the constitution. We are, as a matter of fact, by these flash of words, added during darkest period of emergency, darkest period for the constitution of the country. In the process, if you deeply reflect, we are giving wings to existential challenges, these words have been added as nasur. These words will create upheaval. Addition of these words in the Preamble during emergency signal betrayal of the mindset of the framers of the constitution. It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is sacrileging the spirit of Sanatan.
He further said, apart from Justice Khanna, Justice Hegde and Justice Mukherjee, he quoted the same judgement, “The Preamble of the Constitution, like the soul of the Constitution, is unalterable as it embodies the fundamental values and the philosophy on which the Constitution is based.” It is nothing less than an earthquake for a building whose foundations are sought to be changed from the top floor.
Justice Hegde and Justice Mukherjee said, in the same judgment, “The Preamble of the Constitution, like the soul of the Constitution, is unalterable, as it embodies the fundamental values and the philosophy on which the Constitution is based.”
It is nothing less than an… pic.twitter.com/ASNeLwXFDj
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) June 28, 2025
Justice Shelat and Justice Grover- “The Preamble to constitution is not mere preface or introduction, it is a part of the Constitution and is a key to open the mind of the makers, indicating the general purposes for which the people ordained the Constitution.”
Recalling these statements, VP said this very serious work which cannot be altered has been casually, farcically, and with no sense of propriety changed.
Justice Seekley, another celebrated judge, in that judgement says, “The Preamble of our constitution is of extreme importance and the constitution should be read and interpreted in the light of the grand and noble vision expressed in the Preamble.”
Grand and noble vision was tempered, so was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s spirit. Thus, unhesitatingly, the Preamble crafted by the genius of Dr. Ambedkar and approved by the Constituent Assembly, the soul of the constitution, should have been respected rather than tweaked, altered, and decimated. The change also, friends, militates against our civilisational ethos of thousands of years, where Sanatana philosophy, its spirit, and essence dominated the discourse.
VP also appreciated and congratulated D.S. Veeraiah for bringing this book which has contemporary relevance.
Emphasising the towering legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said he should never be seen merely as a politician. Describing Ambedkar’s life as one of extraordinary struggle and resilience, Dhankhar recalled it was his privilege to be a Member of Parliament and a minister in 1989 when Ambedkar was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna.
He said, “I do not want that our loyalty as Indians should in the slightest way be affected by our competitive loyalty, whether that loyalty arises out of our religion, out of our culture, or out of our language. I want all people to be Indian first, Indian last, and nothing else but Indians.” He has given us mantra — हम भारतीय हैं। भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है। राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है। राष्ट्र सर्वोपरि है। यह डॉक्टर अंबेडकर के वचन हैं। ये वचन अनमोल हैं और आज के दिन ये वचन सबसे बड़े महत्त्व के हैं। हमारी जो बीमारियाँ हैं, हमारी जो पीड़ादायक स्थिति है, आज जो हम चिंतन, दर्शन के लिए सोच रहे हैं, यह nectar है।
Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s final address to the Constituent Assembly on 25th November 1949—a day before the Constitution was signed—Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged every citizen to frame and reflect on the powerful words spoken by the Constitution’s chief architect. Citing Ambedkar’s deep concern, Dhankhar quoted: “What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it by the infidelity and treachery of some of her own people. Will history repeat itself?” He further quoted Ambedkar’s warning: “This anxiety is deepened by the realisation of fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds, we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed, or will they place creed above the country?” Calling it a timely caution, Dhankhar said these words must stir the conscience of every citizen, especially in the current challenging times.
Continuing his tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar recalled the statesman’s final address to the Constituent Assembly, urging the nation to heed his solemn warning. Quoting Ambedkar, he said: “I do not know, but this much is certain, that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood.”
Dhankhar paid his respects to Ambedkar and called on the nation to reflect deeply on the changes made to the Preamble during the Emergency—a time when, he said, the soul of the Constitution was pierced in the name of the people who were themselves in captivity, stripped of access to justice and fundamental rights.
