Advertisement Blunder: Delhi AAP Govt Apologises, Orders Probe

26 November, New Delhi

Terming as a ‘big mistake’ the omission of the words ‘socialist, secular’ in the version of the Preamble published in its advertisements in various newspapers on occasion of Constitution Day, the Delhi Government Thursday directed the Director of Information and Publicity to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The directions from the Delhi government came came after its advertisements published in major newspapers to commemorate Constitution Day quoted an earlier version of the Preamble that omitted the words socialist and secular, thus triggering a controversy.

The chief minister has taken a stern view of the matter and has directed the Director of Information and Publicity to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within four days, a government statement said. Officials said the DIP director has been asked to ascertain how such important components of the Preamble went missing from the text.

The inquiry will focus on whether some mischief was involved in this matter, the statement said.The Central Government and the state Governments are celebrating the first Constitution Day to mark the occasion when the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1949.

The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, Indias Republic Day.The two words – ‘Socialist’ and ‘secular’ – were not a part of the original Preamble of the Constitution but were introduced through the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act in 1976.Speaking on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia admitted that omission of ‘socialist, secular’ is a mistake. ”It is not just a oversight, this is a big mistake,” Mr Sisodia said.