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The government plans to celebrate this occasion by holding meetings, seminars and discussions widely across intellectual circles, schools, and colleges on the Indian Constitution and its principles
It has been an initiative of the Modi government to celebrate this day with fervour every year, especially in Parliament, where a debate and discussion take place. (PTI)
Plans are on for grand celebrations to mark the Indian Constitution turning 75. A joint session of Parliament is likely to be called in the Central Hall of the old Parliament building. Several dignitaries, including President of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to be present during the gathering in which members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will participate.
Apart from this, functions and programmes have been planned for the entire year across states. Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is chairing the group of ministers meeting which multiple ministers from the alliance partners in the Union government are also part of.
The government plans to celebrate this occasion by holding meetings, seminars and discussions widely across intellectual circles, schools, and colleges on the Indian Constitution and its principles. MPs and Union ministers will participate in these programmes along with chief ministers and other constitutional authorities of states.
The Central Hall of Parliament, which is in the old building, also now known as Samvidhan Sadan, is of great historical significance. The transfer of power on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947, from British to Indian hands took place in this Hall. The Indian Constitution was also framed in the Central Hall.
The Central Hall was originally used as the library of the erstwhile Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. In 1946, it was converted and refurnished into the Constituent Assembly Hall. The Constituent Assembly met there from December 9, 1946, to January 24, 1950.
Till the making of the new Parliament building, this hall was used for holding joint sessions of Parliament and address by the President of India ahead of the budget session. However, it is now part of the Samvidhan Sadan and is used by MPs for informal meetings.
It has been an initiative of the Modi government to celebrate this day with fervour every year, especially in Parliament, where a debate and discussion take place. The celebration last year was marred by controversy when the entire united opposition boycotted the event, calling it “fakery”. The argument of the Opposition was that the Constitution was under danger under the Modi regime since 2014.
However, during the recent meeting of the chief ministers’ council, which was chaired by PM Modi, he highlighted the celebration of Constitution Day. Not only did he ask the chief ministers and the deputy chief ministers of all NDA-ruled states to encourage participation on this great occasion, but also told his NDA colleagues that it was the responsibility of each one of them to make people aware of the power of the Indian Constitution which was based on a solid foundation.
This statement came on the back of the opposition parties trying to create a false narrative that the if the BJP won more than 400 seats, it would change the reservation policy enshrined in the Constitution. This also impacted the performance of the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
