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CM Himanta Biswa Sarma calls for removal of ‘Socialism’ and ‘Secularism’ from Constitution
Jun 29, 2025Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday sparked a fresh constitutional debate by advocating for the removal of the words “socialism” and “secularism” from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Speaking at the launch event of The Emergency Diaries: Years That Forged a Leader—a book detailing the 1975–77 Emergency and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during that period—Sarma questioned the relevance of these terms in the Indian context.
"How can I be secular? I am a hardcore Hindu. A Muslim is a hardcore Muslim. How can he be secular?" Sarma remarked, suggesting that the concept of secularism, as understood in the West, does not align with India’s civilizational ethos.
The Chief Minister argued that India’s version of secularism is fundamentally different and should not be equated with religious neutrality. “Our secularism is not about neutrality; it is about being positively aligned,” he said.
Sarma also criticized the inclusion of the term “socialism” in the Constitution, claiming it reflects an imported economic ideology introduced during the Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He contended that Indian economic thought has historically been rooted in Gandhian ideals of trusteeship and community support for the marginalized, rather than centralized socialist models.
“These words—socialism and secularism—were inserted into the Preamble during a period of authoritarian rule. They do not reflect the soul of India’s ancient civilization,” he asserted.
The terms “socialist” and “secular” were formally added to the Preamble of the Constitution through the 42nd Amendment in 1976. Although the core values of secularism and social justice are enshrined in various constitutional provisions, critics have long debated the political and ideological motivations behind their explicit inclusion during the Emergency.
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