Townhall Times – Advocate Harsh Gautam has commented on a statement made today by India’s Vice President, Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar, in which he said that the Preamble of the Constitution is like one’s parents and therefore cannot be changed. This remark appears even more surprising because only a few days earlier, Vice President Dhankhar had described the words ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialism’—added to the Preamble—as incompatible with Indian culture, calling them nothing less than a “cancer.”
Harsh Gautam termed this one of the most insulting remarks made about the Constitution, emphasizing that when the Vice President of the country himself makes such statements, it becomes a matter of serious concern. He added that the Constitution itself provides for its provisions to be amended—through debate, discussion, and broad consensus in Parliament, and not driven by hatred or prejudice.
This is not the first time Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has made controversial comments. Earlier, he had sharply reacted to a recent suggestion made by the Supreme Court.
Statement on the Supreme Court
On April 8, the Supreme Court had, for the first time, suggested that the President should decide within three months on bills pending after being forwarded by Governors. Reacting to this, Vice President Dhankhar expressed concern, stating that India had never envisioned a democracy where judges would make laws, perform executive functions, and act as a “super parliament.”
Some legal experts viewed his remarks as disrespectful toward the judiciary, pointing out that the Vice President himself is an experienced lawyer who should know that the three pillars of the Constitution—the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary—are complementary and together maintain a balance.
Today’s statement
During an interaction with students and faculty members at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) in Kochi, the Vice President remarked, “The Preamble of the Constitution is like parents; it cannot be changed.”
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