The government ad that uses an older version of the Constitution Preamble, without the words "Socialist, Secular"
The Narendra Modi government today denied allegations that it had made a serious mistake in its Republic Day ad, which had an image of the Constitution's preamble with the words "socialist" and "secular" missing.
The ad carried in newspapers on Monday was released by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, which is under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
The ad uses the image of the original Preamble, which says "We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign, democratic Republic..."
The words "Socialist, Secular'' were introduced in 1976, when the Congress was in power.
"It is not a mistake. We are celebrating the 66th anniversary of the preamble made on that day. Some people are trying to rake up a controversy," said Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the junior minister for information and broadcasting.
The ministry said the original preamble was also used in an ad issued by the previous Congress government last year to mark the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar , the father of the Constitution.
But the ad has raised eyebrows at a time the BJP-led government has been accused by opposition parties of not following secular principles and failing to check pro-Hindu elements linked to it.
This morning, US President Barack Obama's strong comments emphasizing on religious freedom were seen by many as a message for the government.
"India will succeed as long as it's not splintered along religious lines. Your Article 25 (of the Constitution) says that all people are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion," President Obama said, addressing 2,000 young people in Delhi in his last public event before winding up a three-day visit.
The BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao said, "Religious tolerance is a tradition for thousands of years. I don't think this was a comment on the government. He is a respected guest and it is his view."