■ Shankaracharya says the word ‘secular’ contradicts the spirit of the Constitution

■ Claims ‘dharma’ involves moral judgment, while secularism ignores right and wrong

■ Supports RSS leader Hosabale’s call to review ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ terms

■ Rahul Gandhi accuses RSS of wanting to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti

■ Terms added during Emergency through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976

metro india news  I hyderabad

Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati on Thursday questioned the inclusion of the word "secular" in the Indian Constitution, claiming that it does not align with the original spirit of the document. Speaking to the media, the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand said that the term was not a part of the Constitution when it was first adopted and was added later under controversial circumstances.

"The word 'secular' was not there in the original Constitution. It was inserted later. That is why the term 'dharmnirpeksh' (secular) does not reflect the true nature of our Constitution," he said.

Explaining his views, he said that the term "secular" suggests neutrality or indifference to moral values, which contradicts the Indian concept of "dharma". According to him, "dharma" is about choosing the right and rejecting the wrong, and such a value-based approach is essential in life. "Dharma means to think about what is right and wrong, to adopt the right path and reject the wrong one. But to be secular means to have nothing to do with either. That is not possible in anyone’s life. Hence, the term is also not appropriate," he remarked.

The Shankaracharya’s comments came in support of the recent statement made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who had called for a reconsideration of the terms "secular" and "socialist" in the Constitution’s preamble. Speaking at an event commemorating 50 years since the Emergency, Hosabale had stated that Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution, had not included those words in the original preamble.

He further said that the terms were introduced during a time when democracy was under serious threat. "The words were added during the Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament was not functioning, and the judiciary had become weak. It is important to review such amendments," Hosabale had said.

The demand for review has triggered strong criticism from the opposition parties, particularly the Congress. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, strongly condemned the remarks, accusing the RSS of trying to replace the Constitution with Manusmriti. In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, "The RSS-BJP doesn't want the Constitution. They want Manusmriti. Their real agenda is to rob the marginalised and the poor of their rights and enslave them once more by taking away their most powerful weapon — the Constitution."

He further said that the true face of the RSS had been exposed once again. Gandhi also alleged that the ruling ideology is seeking to roll back decades of progress made in securing equality and justice for backward and underprivileged communities.

The words "secular" and "socialist", along with "integrity", were added to the Preamble through the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution in 1976 during the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The amendment is often criticised for being passed during a period when democratic institutions were under stress and dissent was suppressed.

The ongoing debate has brought to the surface deep ideological divisions over the direction of India’s democracy and the values enshrined in its foundational document. While proponents of the review argue for restoring the Constitution to its original form, critics warn that such moves threaten the country’s secular and inclusive character.