New Delhi: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Wednesday said the “soul of the Constitution” has proved that Bharat is one and will remain one forever, as he called on citizens and public representatives to work together to build a Viksit Bharat in the Amrit Kaal.
Addressing a Constitution Day event at the Central Hall of the old Parliament building, now Samvidhan Sadan, Radhakrishnan described the Constitution as a living document that binds a diverse country of “over 1.4 billion dreams” into a single national identity.
“The soul of our Constitution has proved that Bharat is one and will be one forever,” he said, adding that its values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity must guide every law, policy and institution.
He urged MPs, MLAs and members of local bodies to rely on dialogue, debate and discussion to address people’s aspirations, not disruption or confrontation, arguing that constructive politics was essential to honour the spirit of the Constitution.
Radhakrishnan said no country could achieve greatness without “duty-conscious citizens”, and stressed that fundamental duties were as important as fundamental rights. He called on people, especially the youth, to read and understand the Constitution so that they can become active participants in democracy, not just “passive beneficiaries” of welfare schemes.
Linking constitutional values with development goals, the Vice President said the document provided the moral and institutional framework for achieving the target of a developed India by 2047. He also underlined the need to protect the unity and integrity of the nation and to ensure that the benefits of growth reach the poorest and most marginalised sections of society.
Radhakrishnan’s remarks came as the nation marked Constitution Day with readings of the Preamble and special programmes in Parliament, state legislatures, schools and public institutions across the country.