Our Constitution binds India’s vast diversity into unity: Yogi | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Stating that our Constitution binds the nation’s vast diversity into unity, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that people’s rights are protected only when they fulfill their duties.He was speaking at a Constitution Day event at Lok Bhavan, where he led the reading of the Preamble and administered an oath to officials and attendees.“India has the world’s largest Constitution because it encompasses the contributions of freedom fighters, experts, and members of the assembly… When Babasaheb Ambedkar’s committee presented the final draft to the Constituent Assembly, he emphasised that the Constitution would serve as a guiding document for unifying the nation,” the CM said.Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks from 2015, the CM said: “Every citizen of independent India enjoys freedom but often fails to understand its true value, as we did not witness the struggle for freedom. We did not endure the brutal oppression that earlier generations faced. As a result, public discourse centres largely on rights. However, rights are meaningful only when citizens also fulfil their duties. Rights cannot exist without duties. Whenever people seek rights without responsibility, democracy starts to weaken. In such a situation, we have seen dictatorships rise, which then control and undermine the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens.”He added that this tendency was not seen in India, where the Constitution has been accorded the utmost respect.The CM encouraged people to embrace PM Modi’s Panch Pran for a self-reliant and developed nation, to shed the mentality of slavery and show respect for the armed forces, paramilitary personnel, and police. He added that if an individual commits a mistake, the entire system should not be blamed. Instead, the individual should be given a chance to correct himself.Outlining that every citizen has a responsibility to work for national unity and integrity, the Yogi emphasised that India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, coupled with the sacrifices of freedom fighters, is a priceless legacy. He urged everyone to honour this legacy by performing their duties with dedication and commitment.“Disrespecting the Constitution of India is an insult not only to Babasaheb Ambedkar but also to the freedom fighters and martyrs who secured democratic rights through the strength of this very Constitution. It is equally an affront to women, who were granted the right to vote from the very first general election, and Dalits and Scheduled Tribe communities, who had long faced social exclusion, by giving them a transformative opportunity to join the mainstream,” the CM said, adding that failing to perform one’s duties sincerely was a form of disrespect.Yogi said the state has received over 98 lakh suggestions from the public on building a developed Uttar Pradesh as part of the discussion initiated during the last session of the state legislature. “Every fifth family in the state has sent suggestions. People want to be part of governance. The govt plans to honour the best suggestions at both district and state levels,” he added.He warned that attempts to spread hatred based on caste, region, or language undermine India’s unity and stability. Encouraging every Indian to have a copy of the Constitution in their homes and recite the Preamble within their families, the CM highlighted that the original Constitution has illustrations of Lord Ram returning to Ayodhya in the Pushpak Viman with Sita, and Lord Krishna imparting the teachings of the Gita during the Mahabharat. Pictures of revered figures, including Mahatma Buddha and Emperor Ashoka, reflect India’s rich heritage, he said, adding that such depictions remind one that the “Constitution promotes respect for tradition and cultural pride, even though as a society, we often hesitate to embrace this heritage.”He said that failing to fulfil civic duties hampers national progress. Giving the analogy of smoke appearing somewhere, he said that it signals the need for action. “If a fire breaks out in a neighbour’s house and we do nothing, it may eventually endanger us as well. The stance of trade unions earlier often implied that their demands had to be met at any cost, irrespective of the consequences. Work must be performed with honesty, and every honest worker deserves fair compensation and a dignified life,” he said.