New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has drawn up an elaborate plan to mark the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution on 26 November.
The plan includes a special session in Parliament’s Central Hall to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a year-long awareness campaign across the country on the Constitutional rights of the citizens and mandatory reading of the preamble to the Constitution by all central and state government officials.
The year-long celebration will begin on 26 November, which is celebrated as Constitution Day or Samvidhan Divas, and will continue until the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar in April, who is called the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’.
In a written communication sent to all central government secretaries, state chief secretaries and heads of all subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, corporations, organisations and PSUs, Alok Srivastava, the justice secretary, said that the preamble to the Constitution will be read out in all offices at 11 am on 26 November.
Srivastava’s letter stated that from now on reading the preamble will become an annual feature in all government offices on 26 November.
“It is also suggested that a banner regarding Samvidhan Divas may also be put up at the place where the preamble is being read out by everybody,” the letter, sent on 18 November, stated.
Besides reading the preamble, ministries have been asked to send pictures along with reports of the functions held for reading the preamble to the Department of Justice that functions under the Ministry of Law and Justice.
MHA, MEA, IT ministry to take part
The government will also carry out year-long programmes to spread awareness on the Constitutional rights and fundamental duties of the people.
“It will be a mass government programme and PM Modi will launch it on 26 November when he addresses a special session of the Parliament. Students across the country will also be able to watch it in their educational institutions,” said a government official.
The official said activities would also be organised on the fundamental duties enshrined in the Constitution.
“In December, a major programme is likely to be organised and the PM will interact with people from different walks of life there. He will address people from different segments, including lawyers, students, etc. This is still being finalised,” added the official.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is coordinating with different ministries to ensure that all the celebrations take place according to the plan.
A number of ministries, including external affairs, human resource development, rural, and information and technology, will participate in the celebrations.
The government has also asked the ministries to build their campaigns highlighting the different fundamental duties.
For instance, the union home ministry has been tasked with developing a campaign highlighting the duty of every citizen to maintain the dignity of the Constitution by not indulging in any activities, which violate it.
Also read: Pledge to follow fundamental duties — how govt wants students to mark 70 yrs of Constitution
Nobody follows the Constitution in India… If they did we wouldn’t have a party aided by the RSS heading our nation. Democracy shredded into pieces and people celebrating 70 years of the Constitution ? What a joke. Ask the ministers and sitting MP’ S in the parliament if they know what are our fundamental Rights ?
That is our world. You want to tear up the constitution and you get to speak about it with no prior knowledge or experience.