Unveiling the Mystery: VP Dhankar Demands Justice for ‘Missing’ Miniatures in India’s Constitution Copies

BJP Rajya Sabha member Radha Mohan Das Agrawal claimed on Tuesday that 22 miniature illustrations by renowned artist Nandalal Bose are “missing” from the latest copies of the Indian Constitution. This issue prompted Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to urge the government to rectify the situation and ensure that only the authentic version of the Constitution is in circulation.

Agrawal, speaking during the Zero Hour, expressed concern that citizens and students do not have access to the original Constitution signed by its framers. He questioned when and why these key illustrations—depicting significant cultural and historical figures like the Indus Valley seal, Lord Ram, Buddha, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose—were removed, stressing the need for following constitutional procedures, even for minor amendments.

This claim sparked uproar from the Opposition benches, leading Dhankhar to ask the Leader of the House, JP Nadda, to ensure that the authentic Constitution is reinstated. Dhankhar remarked, “Any violation should be taken seriously by the government and serious action taken.”

In response, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the issue as an unnecessary controversy, questioning whether the current copies provided to MPs included these illustrations. Following this, Congress MPs walked out in protest. Despite the Opposition’s reaction, Nadda acknowledged the importance of the concern raised and displayed an original version to the House, affirming, “These illustrations are not printed in today’s copies. The government will ensure that the Constitution is published with the full emotions intended.”

Following the debate, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat made the illustrated original Constitution available to MPs digitally during Question Hour, according to sources. This incident highlights ongoing discussions regarding preserving the integrity and authenticity of the Constitution’s published versions.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/22-miniatures-missing-from-constitution-copies-v-p-dhankar-urges-action-9831044/
Category : India
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Publish Date: 2025-02-12 04:23:00