Opposition to read out Preamble to Constitution on Republic Day

After holding a meeting in New Delhi on Monday, Opposition parties have decided to read out the Preamble to the Constitution across the country on Republic Day, as a mark of protest against the BJP's push towards the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) followed by generation of nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

New Delhi:As a mark of protest against the Bharatiya Janta Party's push for the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) followed by generation of nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) Opposition parties have decided to read out the Preamble to the Constitution across the country on Republic Day.

In a statement issued after a meeting in New Delhi on Monday, the opposition parties said that they have decided to observe a "Jai Hind Day" on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's on January 23.

The resolution adopted at the meeting also called upon Chief Ministers who are opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the NRC, to stop the NPR process in their respective states.

The resolution said, "the slogan coined by the Indian National Army (INA) under his (Bose) leadership has become the regular greeting of all Indians - "Jai Hind". The historic INA trial at Red Fort reverberated with the slogan "Sahhgal, Dhillon, Shahnawaz" that galvanised the Indian people and bolstered the communal unity of our people during those difficult times of 1945-46."

"Readings of the Preamble of the Constitution and taking oath to safeguard it in all habitations across the country must be held on January 30, on the martyrdom day of Mahatma Gandhi. Observe it by highlighting his relentless campaigns in pursuit of communal harmony," the resolution said, urging people to join the program.

The Opposition parties also urged the states to stop the NPR process from going ahead.

"The CAA, NPR, and NRC is a package that is unconstitutional, which specifically targets the poor, the downtrodden, the SC/STs and the linguistic and religious minorities. The NPR is the basis for the NRC. We demand the withdrawal of the CAA and the immediate stoppage of the nationwide NRC/NPR. All the Chief Ministers, who have announced that they will not implement NRC in their State, must consider suspending the NPR enumeration as this is a prelude to NRC," they said.

The resolution also said the economic crisis has pushed the economy to the verge of a recession with a record fall in the country's GDP and unemployment levels at their highest in the last half a century.

"Agrarian distress deepening with rising farmer suicides, massive closures and lay offs in industrial units accompanied by rising prices of petroleum products, cooking gas, vegetables, and all essential commodities is making people's lives more miserable. The Modi government has created an economic disaster," it added.