The CPI MP said that secularism and socialism are both enshrined and fundamental in the Constitution
The CPI MP said that secularism and socialism are both enshrined and fundamental in the Constitution
Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam has moved the Supreme Court to intervene in a petition filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, which seeks to remove “secular” and “socialist” from the Preamble of the Constitution.
Mr Viswam, represented by advocate Sriram Parakkat, said the insertion of the words “socialist” and “secular” by the framers of the Constitution was with the clear intention of “to keep Indian politics secular”.
The Communist Party of India leader said that secularism and socialism are both inherent and basic in the Constitution.
Mr Vishwam substantiated his argument by citing the Supreme Court’s nine-judge Bench judgment in the SR Bommai case, which held that “secularism is one of the basic features of the Constitution”.
“While freedom of religion is guaranteed to all persons in India, from the point of view of the state, the religion, belief or belief of any person is unimportant. For the state, all are equal and entitled to equal treatment. There is no place. No political party can be a religious party together. Politics and religion cannot be mixed,” Mr. Viswam quoted from the 1994 Bommai verdict.
He said that political parties cannot be allowed to seek votes in the name of religion.
Shri Vishwam said that the main objective of the socialist state is to eliminate inequality in income and status and standard of living.
“The basic structure of socialism is to provide a decent standard of living to the working people and especially protection from cradle to grave,” he argued.