70 Years Of Indian Constitution: PM, Prez, VP Pay Tribute To Ambedkar

HYDERABAD: Today marks the 70th year of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, which has come to be known as the Constitution Day or also known as Samvidhan Diwas. The day was first celebrated in 2015 as a mark of tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, who played an integral role in the making of the Constitution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2015, while laying the foundation stone of Statue of Equality in Mumbai made the declaration.

PM Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind addressed a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday.

President Ram Nath Kovind:

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said all three organs of the state, persons holding constitutional posts, members of civil society and citizens should abide by "constitutional morality". Addressing joint sitting of Parliament to mark Constitution Day, he said B R Ambedkar, while underlining the importance of constitutional morality, had emphasised that its essence was to regard the Constitution as supreme and to follow constitutionally-mandated procedures.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised on people's duties, saying their rights were stressed upon earlier but time has now come to focus on citizens' responsibilities as well. "Let us think about how we can fulfil duties enshrined in our Constitution," Modi said.

Paying tributes to Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the architect of Constitution, the prime minister said he would be happy to see that India has strengthened and empowered its democracy in the last 70 years.

Modi said November 26 is a happy occasion as India celebrates Constitution Day but it also is a sad reminder of the Mumbai terror attacks, which had taken place on this day in 2008. He paid tributes to those killed in the terror attacks.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the need to keep the country above creed and quoted B R Ambedkar to say if the contrary is done, then the country's independence will be put in jeopardy. He also said lawmakers should resolve to spread awareness among citizens about their Fundamental Duties.

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla emphasized the fundamental duties to be followed by citizens. He tweeted, "Our Constitution grants Fundamental Rights and through Directive Principles enumerates certain duties for citizens to abide by. The perfect blend of rights and duties strengthens democracy. Let us pledge on 70th Constitution Day to build India abiding by values of the Constitution."

Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi government is committed to ensure the unity and integrity of the country by following the ideals of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, and serve 130 crore Indians. The home minister said the Indian constitution, which binds the world's largest democracy in the thread of unity, is also federal and unitary.

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