New Delhi: ‘Socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’ – these three significant words from the preamble to the Indian constitution are absent from its replica which was showcased in a Constitution Park built in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The park, situated within the Baraut Municipal Council premises, was inaugurated on Republic Day by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and minister of state K.P. Malik, alongside district magistrate Asmita Lal.The terms ‘socialist’, ‘secular’ and ‘integrity’ were incorporated into the preamble through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, and have since been integral to India’s constitutional framework. Their omission in a public replica of the constitution’s preamble, thus, raises serious questions.In response to questions posed by The Wire Hindi, the district magistrate of Baghpat said that the replica placed in the park is based on the original preamble of the Constitution that came into effect on January 26, 1950, and asserted that there is ‘no agenda’ behind it. However, it remains unclear why the decision to adopt this version of the preamble was made.Demand for correctionThe Uttar Pradesh government has said that this park serves as a distinctive venue aimed at enhancing the health, as well as knowledge of children and adults. However, local residents have raised concerns about the selective omission of the preamble words.Vikrant, a municipal councillor from Baraut, told The Wire Hindi that he met with DM Asmita Lal and demanded that the text be amended to ensure that the public can grasp the true essence of the constitution and that the park’s intended purpose can be fulfilled.#गणतंत्र दिवस के अवसर पर जनपद #बागपत की बड़ौत नगर पालिका परिसर में पार्क का #सौंदर्यकरण कर संविधान पार्क का स्वरूप दिया गया जिसका #लोकार्पण माo राज्यमंत्री @KPMalik_BJP जी ने किया। इस पार्क में विकसित #संविधान की पुस्तक, #स्वदेशी का प्रतीक #चरखा आदि को वेस्ट मैटेरियल का… pic.twitter.com/ff8cZh0vjA— DM Baghpat (@BagpatDm) January 26, 2026Vikrant further remarked, “When I met the district magistrate, I asked her whether the exclusion of the three significant words –socialist, secular, and integrity – from the preamble was merely an oversight or if she had been instructed to do so by a higher authority.” “The district magistrate explicitly confirmed that this was the original preamble,” he added.Several local residents said that they too have submitted a memorandum to the DM in this regard, and warned that if action was not taken soon, they would launch a widespread protest.Aarushi, a lawyer residing in Baraut, also agreed that the administration must take prompt action regarding this matter, as the disparity between the rich and the poor has increased in the country, making socialism imperative. Similarly, amidst hate crimes and divisive political agendas, the constitution serves as a reminder of the importance of secularism and integrity.The echoes of the local residents’ protest are also resonating on social media platforms. In the comments section of a video of the event, which was shared on Facebook by the Baghpat Information Department, many people have raised questions about the replica.Responding to one of the comments, the department reiterated that this was a replica of the original preamble that was enacted on January 26, 1950, and that it does not include the words, which were added under the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976. According to the officials, since the constitution is subject to further amendments, only the original preamble of the constitution has been displayed.Why is the administration in such hurry to make changes?Aarushi raised the question regarding the administration’s aversion to these words, especially when both the Supreme Court and the current government have explicitly stated that these terms are inseparable from the constitution and they have no intention of separating them. Why, then, is the administration displaying such fervour in this issue, she asked.It is important to highlight that during the Emergency, in 1976, when the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ were added to the preamble to the constitution, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had said in the Lok Sabha, “The intention of the framers of our Constitution and our country was that Indian society should be secular and socialist… Now we are merely incorporating them into the Constitution as they rightfully deserve to be acknowledged here.”In recent times, the debate against the inclusion of these words has become more intense. Some, especially right-wing factions like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and various leaders of the BJP, view it as a facet of Emergency-era politics.However, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has clarified on behalf of the government that they have no intention to remove these words from the preamble. However, social activists and members of the opposition perceive the latest row as a contradiction between the BJP’s statements and its actions.The preamble and its replica installed in the ‘Constitution Park’ in Baraut. (Photo courtesy: Social media)Speaking to The Wire Hindi, activist Gauhar Raza said, “The current government, which is orchestrating all of this, does not believe in the constitution. They are systematically attempting to change whatever they can.”It is worth noting that last year, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale had sparked a debate by demanding the removal of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the preamble. Speaking at an event marking 50 years of the Emergency, he remarked that the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ were added to the constitution during the Emergency and were not part of the original preamble. He stated that although these terms were not removed later, there should be a debate on whether these words ought to remain or not.In addition, he said that these two terms were not part of B.R. Ambedkar’s constitution. Hosabale’s remarks sparked a major debate in Indian politics.However, prior to the statement made by the RSS general secretary, in November 2024, the Supreme Court had already dismissed petitions that sought the removal of the terms ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ from the preamble. The apex court had observed that these words were integral to the fundamental structure of the constitution, and their removal would be against its spirit. Photo: PIB/FlickrThis is a serious matter: Subhashini AliReacting to the Baraut incident, a former MP and Politburo member of the Communist Party of India, Subhashini Ali, said, “Numerous amendments have been made to the constitution since 1950, but disregarding these amendments, the district magistrate of Baghpat has coincidentally overlooked three words in the preamble – the very three words that people inspired by the RSS ideology seek to eliminate from the constitution. In such a situation, it is but natural to question the district magistrate’s allegiance – is it to the constitution or the Sangh?”Subhashini further said, “The Sangh’s animosity towards secularism is quite evident, and it appears they are so anti-people that they also have an aversion to socialism. However, it now seems that they are also harbouring a disdain for integrity, raising the question of whether the accusation that they are dividing society is true.”She continued, “The dangerous and destructive path that the Sangh is steering the country towards is quite apparent. But, the fact that administrative officials, rather than safeguarding the Constitution, are intent on undermining it and advancing this dangerous and destructive agenda, is indeed a serious concern.”Sangh and the Indian constitutionThe relationship between the RSS and the Indian constitution has always been uneasy. This can also be linked to the book Bunch of Thoughts written by Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the Sangh, in which he writes:“Our Constitution too is just a cumbersome and heterogeneous piecing together of various Constitutions of Western countries. It has absolutely nothing, which can be called our own. Is there a single word of reference in its guiding principles as to what our national mission is and what our keynote in life is? No!”In a similar vein, renowned lawyer and political analyst, A.G. Noorani, in his book, The RSS: A Menace to India, writes that the ‘Sangh’ rejects the Indian Constitution. He writes: “It (the Sangh) published its ‘White Paper’ denouncing the Constitution as ‘anti-Hindu’ and outlining the kind of polity it wishes to establish in the country, on 1 January 1993. Its front cover posed two questions: ‘Who is the destroyer of India’s integrity, brotherhood and communal amity?’ and ‘Who has spread starvation, unemployment, corruption, and irreligion?’ The answer is provided in the title of the White Paper – ‘Vartaman Indian Samvidhan’ (The Present Indian Constitution).”BJP’s argument is contradictory: Nilanjan MukhopadhyayIn this regard, senior journalist and author of the book The RSS: Icons of the Indian Right, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, said that the committee to review the constitution was formed under the Vajpayee government because the Sangh and the BJP believed that a new constitution should replace the existing one.Speaking to The Wire Hindi, Nilanjan said, “Removing these three words is an insult to the Preamble and the Constitution.”Nilanjan further stated, “As far as the BJP is concerned, which is fueling this political debate, their position regarding the amendments to the Preamble during the Emergency is contradictory. If they reject the amended Preamble, then why do they encourage citizens to adhere to their fundamental duties, which were added to Article 51(A) under the 42nd Amendment during the Emergency?”It is important to note that the RSS has recently tried to clarify its stance on the constitution.In 2018, at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, current RSS chief, Mohan Bhagwat remarked, “This Constitution was crafted by our people, and it represents the consensus of our country. Therefore it is the responsibility of everyone to uphold the discipline of the Constitution. The RSS has always held this belief… We fully respect all the symbols of independent India and the spirit of the Constitution.”Questions have been sent to minister of state K.P. Malik seeking his opinion in the matter. No response has been received yet. The report will be updated as and when a response is received.Translated from the original published in The Wire Hindi by Naushin Rehman.An earlier version of this story misspelled Baghpat and has been corrected. We regret the error.