Constitution Signed By Founding Fathers With 22 Drawings Is Only Authentic One, Govt Should Take Action Against Publications Excluding Them: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar
While responding to the speech of a member of the Rajya Sabha today, its Chairman and Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the original Indian Constitution signed by the Founding Fathers, with the amendments done to it by the Parliament, which contains 22 miniature drawings/illustrations, alone must be in circulation.
The Chairman of Rajya Sabha was responding to the speech in the house by Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh about the copies of the Constitution in circulation, which do not contain the paintings contained on the original Constitution. Agarwal said that images of Shri Ram, Sri Krishna, Buddha, Mahaveer, Chhatrapati Shivaji etc have been "removed" from the Constitution.
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar responded when the statements of Agarwal caused an uproar in the house. He said, "I am categorical that the Constitution signed by the Founding Fathers, carrying 22 miniatures, is the only authentic one and it can include amendments by the Parliament. If there is any change effected by the judiciary or any institution, it is not acceptable to this House."
He said that the 22 drawings on the original Constitution are an inseparable part of the Constitution. "It shows the cultural journey of India over 5000 years", he said referring to the paintings.
"Today, any copy of the Constitution you look at, it (drawings) is not there. This is inappropriate", he added.
He expressed concern over violations and called on the government to take strong and serious action against any such deviations.
“I will appeal to the Leader of the House to ensure that in the country only the authentic version of the Indian Constitution be promulgated. Any violation of this should be taken quite seriously by the government and severe action taken." Dhankhar said.
Last year on January 24, 2024, he had made similar remarks expressing his deep concern that children in India are not exposed to the original copy of the Constitution, which includes 22 miniature paintings symbolizing key aspects of Indian culture.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ campaign to commemorate the 75th year of India as a Republic, the Vice President had emphasized that the authentic version of the Constitution, signed by the members of the Constituent Assembly, should be made available to the public, particularly students.
He had then said that through these miniatures, the founding fathers of the constitution expressed the essence of our five-thousand-year-old culture. But you have not been able to see it because it is not the part of the books, he said while urging the Union Law Minster to take the initiative to ensure that the country is made available the constitution in its authentic form, as given to us by our founding fathers.
"A miniature illustration depicting the return of Ram, Sita and Lakshman to Ayodhya has also been thoughtfully positioned in Part 3 of our Constitution", he had said.
Today in the Rajya Sabha, after the remarks by Vice President, Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha said that the issue is being raked up to bring the Constitution into "controversy". He added that raising this issue is an attempt to insult Dr. Ambedkar.
Jagdeep Dhankhar responded by saying that it will be an insult to Dr. Ambekdar if the original signed copy of the Constitution is not what is being published.
Union Minister J. P. Nadda then agreed that the original illustrations are missing from the Constitution that is now being published. He showed a depiction of the original Constitution containing the illustrations.
