01-20-2007, 11:38 PM
DMK urges Centre to 'rewrite' Constitution
Press Trust of India
Chennai, January 20, 2007
Against the backdrop of recent Supreme Court judgements on the power of Parliament vis-a-vis the legislature, the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu on Saturday demanded the rewriting of the Constitution, keeping in mind the changing needs of the nation while preserving basics like the country's unity, integrity and sovereignty.
Outlining the policy of the DMK â a partner of the UPA at the Centre â for the coming year, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala told the state assembly that political, social and economic facets and the needs of the working class had radically changed in the past 50 years.
Today, the backward, most backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been forced to defend their hard-won rights and to ensure social justice, including minority and gender rights, he said in an obvious reference to the Supreme Court verdict that all laws incorporated in the Constitution's ninth schedule after 1973 were open to judicial review.
Echoing the DMK's long-pending demand for autonomy for states, Barnala, a former leader of Akali Dal which too demanded more powers for states, said there was an increasing need to transfer more powers to states by reviewing the division of powers between states and the Union. This would ensure that true federalism prevails and the wheels of social justice move without any hindrance.
"Hence, this government urges the Union government that the Constitution of India should be rewritten afresh, having regard to the changing needs, while preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation," Barnala said.
Press Trust of India
Chennai, January 20, 2007
Against the backdrop of recent Supreme Court judgements on the power of Parliament vis-a-vis the legislature, the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu on Saturday demanded the rewriting of the Constitution, keeping in mind the changing needs of the nation while preserving basics like the country's unity, integrity and sovereignty.
Outlining the policy of the DMK â a partner of the UPA at the Centre â for the coming year, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala told the state assembly that political, social and economic facets and the needs of the working class had radically changed in the past 50 years.
Today, the backward, most backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been forced to defend their hard-won rights and to ensure social justice, including minority and gender rights, he said in an obvious reference to the Supreme Court verdict that all laws incorporated in the Constitution's ninth schedule after 1973 were open to judicial review.
Echoing the DMK's long-pending demand for autonomy for states, Barnala, a former leader of Akali Dal which too demanded more powers for states, said there was an increasing need to transfer more powers to states by reviewing the division of powers between states and the Union. This would ensure that true federalism prevails and the wheels of social justice move without any hindrance.
"Hence, this government urges the Union government that the Constitution of India should be rewritten afresh, having regard to the changing needs, while preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation," Barnala said.