RSS Leader Faces Legal Complaint Over Call to Revisit Constitution’s Preamble

Bengaluru: The Karnataka unit of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) Legal Cell has filed a formal complaint against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale at Seshadripuram Police Station, accusing him of making remarks that undermine India’s Constitution. The complaint stems from a speech Hosabale delivered on June 26, 2025, during an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, where he suggested reconsidering the inclusion of the terms “socialist” and “secular” in the Constitution’s Preamble.

According to the complaint, lodged by IYC Legal Cell President Sridhar K. on June 29, 2025, Hosabale’s statements were “unconstitutional, inflammatory, and divisive.” The filing alleges that his remarks violated provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and constituted an attempt to marginalize religious communities and foster discord. Specifically, Hosabale noted that the terms “socialist” and “secular” were added to the Preamble during the Emergency under the Congress-led government and were not part of the original Constitution drafted by B.R. Ambedkar.

The complaint references a Supreme Court ruling from November 2024, which upheld the constitutional validity of the 42nd Amendment that introduced “socialist,” “secular,” and “integrity” to the Preamble in 1976. The IYC argues that Hosabale’s call to revisit these terms disregards the judiciary’s affirmation of their legitimacy and threatens the constitutional values of equality and secularism.

Hosabale’s remarks have sparked significant controversy, with critics labeling them as an attack on the Constitution’s core principles. The complaint demands legal action against the RSS leader, asserting that his statements challenge the foundational ethos of India’s democratic framework. As of now, no official response from Hosabale or the RSS has been reported by Hindustan Times.