Ramesh Seeks Privilege Proceedings Against Pradhan Over Preamble Omission
New Delhi, 9th August. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has submitted a notice to initiate privilege proceedings in the Rajya Sabha against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of misleading the House regarding the omission of the Preamble to the Constitution from certain NCERT textbooks.
In a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, dated August 8, Ramesh cited an August 7, 2024, exchange where Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns about the alleged removal of the Preamble from textbooks for Classes 3 and 6. In response, Pradhan claimed that the Preamble was still included in the Class 6 textbooks, a statement Ramesh argues is “factually incorrect and misleading.”
Ramesh provided evidence, including textbooks from various editions, to support his claim that the Preamble has been omitted from the most recent editions of the textbooks. He highlighted that the omission is a serious issue as it affects the awareness of the Constitution’s principles among students.
Ramesh’s notice under Rule 187 of the Rajya Sabha’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business calls for privilege proceedings against Pradhan. He contends that misleading the House constitutes a breach of privilege and contempt.
In a defense, Pradhan had previously stated that the Preamble, along with other core constitutional values, remains in the new textbooks and refuted the allegations made by Congress leaders.
The Congress party had earlier accused the government of attempting to impose communal ideology by removing the Preamble from textbooks, a claim countered by Union Minister J.P. Nadda, who affirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the Constitution.
The Rajya Sabha is expected to review Ramesh’s motion and determine the next steps in addressing the allegations.
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