NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief ministerMamata Banerjee on Wednesday paid her tribute to Constitution Day, with a sharp warning stating that at a time when democracy is at stake, “secularism is in endangered situation, and federalism is being bulldozed,” we must protect the valuable guidance that the Samvidhan provides.She urged citizens to safeguard the principles laid down in the Constitution, calling it India’s “backbone” and a unifying force for the country’s diversity.
Sharing a post on X, Banerjee paid tribute to the Constitution and its framers, including Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and members of the Constituent Assembly from Bengal.“Today, on this Constitution Day, I pay my deepest respect and tribute to the great Constitution that we have, to the great document that binds us in India. I also pay my tribute today to the visionary framers of our Constitution, especially Dr BR Ambedkar, its principal architect,” she wrote.She said the Constitution is “the backbone of our nation that masterfully weaves together the immense diversity of our cultures, languages, and communities into an integrated, federal whole. On this sacred day, we re-affirm our commitment to the core democratic values enshrined in our Constitution and commit to vigilantly safeguard the sacred principles that define and sustain us as a nation.” “Now, when democracy is at stake, when secularism is in an endangered situation, when federalism is being bulldozed, at this critical time, we must protect the valuable guidance that our Constitution provides,” she added.
‘India belongs to all, not one ideology’: Stalin
“India belongs to all its people, not to one culture or one ideology. On this Constitution Day, we reaffirm our resolve to resist every force that tries to shrink Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision. We will do everything required to uphold true federalism as enshrined in our Constitution and protect the rights of every State,” he posted on X.He said that the real tribute to our “Constitution is to defend our Republic from those who fear its promise of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.”
‘Continue to guide our nation forward’: Shivakumar
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar posted, “On this National Constitution Day, we reflect on the ideals that shaped our democracy and continue to guide our nation forward.” “The Congress has always championed these values, standing committed to protecting the rights and dignity of every citizen. As we honour this day, we reaffirm our responsibility to uphold the Constitution and strengthen the democratic fabric of India,” he added.Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949. The government declared it Constitution Day in 2015.
