The LDF government’s biggest mistake was to get Kerala Minister Saji Cherian to resign over his remarks on the Constitution. Mr. Cherian had said the Constitution is “British-crafted and anti-working class.” The writers of the Constitution inserted a few words such as “secularism” and “democracy’’ here and there, but this did not take away from the fact that the Constitution is a “tool to exploit the common man,” he said. Is there any evidence that Mr. Cherian reneged on the oath he took as an MLA and as a Minister?
Amendments to the Constitution
The Indian Constitution is fundamentally liberal. There is no stipulation that makes contempt of the Constitution a serious felony. In fact, Article 19(1)(1) guarantees freedom of expression with which one can even criticise the working of the Constitution. Criticism over Mr. Cherian’s remark that the British dictated the Constitution does not hold water. The Constituent Assembly, which drafted the Constitution, borrowed heavily from the Government of India Act, 1935, which was introduced and used by the British for over 12 years in this country. The Constitution is not a holy scripture, but an organic document. The word ‘secular’ was not found in the original text adopted, but was inserted under the 42nd Amendment.
