People must uphold the sanctity of constitution, says Biren

IMPHAL | Nov 27

Chief Minister N. Biren urged the people of the State to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution. He was speaking as the chief guest at Constitution Day celebration held at the conference hall of secretariat south b lock here today.

While laying the foundation stone of B.R. Ambedkar Memorial in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that from 2015 onwards, November 26 of every year, celebrated earlier as Law Day, would hence forth be celebrated as the Constitution Day, the chief minister said.

Accordingly the government of India issued a Gazette notification declaring November 26 as the Constitution Day, Biren said.

He further said that the Preamble of the Constitution states the nature of Indian State and the objectives are committed to secure justice, liberty and equality for the people and promoting fraternity, dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation. It declares India to be a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, he added.

The chief minister contended that the Constitution defines the framework of the country, fundamental political principles, establishes the structures, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens. It imparts for the constitutional supremacy not the parliamentary democracy, he added.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India after the country gained independence. A Drafting Committee was earlier formed under the chairmanship of B.R. Ambedkar.

In the early part of 1948, B.R. Ambedkar completed the draft of the Constitution and presented in the Constituent Assembly. On November 26, 1949 the draft was adopted with very few amendments and it came into force from January 26, 1950. It is the supreme law of the land made by the people of India acting through duly elected and representative body of the Constituent Assembly.

Law and legislative affairs minister L. Jayantakumar, who attended the occasion as the functional president, said that the Constitution of India is one of the best constitutions in the word. Every Section and Articles of the Indian Constitution has humane touch, he added.

Ministers, MLAs top civil and police officers also attended the function.