The Congress on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues aggressively criticised Indira Gandhi regarding the 42nd Amendment, yet failed to acknowledge that she, along with other Congress MPs, supported the 44th Amendment, which eliminated several provisions from the 42nd Amendment.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the PM’s remarks overlooked the fact that many provisions from the 42nd Amendment have remained intact since its enactment nearly fifty years ago.

In his statement on X, Ramesh emphasised, “During the discussion on the Constitution, the PM and his colleagues mounted a furious attack on Indira Gandhi for the 42nd Amendment that was passed by Parliament in December 1976.” He added that Indira Gandhi participated in the passage of the 44th Amendment in December 1978 while Morarji Desai was Prime Minister.

Notably, the 42nd Amendment incorporated the words “socialist” and “secular” into the Preamble of the Constitution, transforming the description of India from a “sovereign, democratic republic” to a “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic.”

Ramesh pointed out that while the 44th Amendment removed some provisions of the 42nd Amendment, many elements from it were retained over the years.

He highlighted that the Supreme Court has recently affirmed that the terms “socialist” and “secular” in the Preamble are fundamental to the Constitution’s structure. Ramesh specified retained provisions, including Article 39-A, which ensures equal justice and free legal aid, and Article 43-A, which promotes worker participation in industry management.

Further retained articles mentioned by Ramesh include Article 48-A, which safeguards the environment and wildlife, and Article 51-A, which enumerates the fundamental duties of citizens. Articles 323-A and 323-B provide frameworks for administrative and other tribunals. Additionally, the inclusion of education, population planning, environment, and forests in the Seventh Schedule, designated as the Concurrent list affecting both Union and State governments, has also been maintained.

Earlier this month, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha engaged in a two-day debate commemorating the “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India,” which witnessed intense exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties.

Kuwait on Sunday awarded its highest distinction, ‘The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer’, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his efforts to enhance the bilateral relations between India and Kuwait. The honour was presented by Kuwait’s Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, at the Bayan Palace.

In a statement on X, Modi expressed, “I am honoured to be conferred the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait. I dedicate this honour to the people of India and to the strong friendship between India and Kuwait.”

The ‘Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer’ is a prestigious knighthood order in Kuwait. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal characterized the award as “a testament to the long-standing India-Kuwait friendship,” adding that Modi dedicated the honour to the ties between the two nations, the Indian community in Kuwait, and to the 1.4 billion people of India.

This award marks the 20th international honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi by a foreign country, according to officials. The order is traditionally bestowed upon Heads of State, foreign sovereigns, and members of foreign royal families as a symbol of friendship. Previous recipients include notable leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush.

Modi’s visit to Kuwait, which began on Saturday, is notable as the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed with a ceremonial reception and a Guard of Honour at the Bayan Palace.

Additionally, Prime Minister Modi has previously received accolades from other Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. In November, he received top awards from Guyana and Dominica for his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and for strengthening bilateral relations with those Caribbean countries.

Furthermore, Nigeria honored him with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger for his statesmanship and significant contributions to fostering bilateral ties, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive that distinction.

A total of 416 individuals were arrested during the third phase of the crackdown on child marriage in Assam, as stated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday.

This phase of the operation commenced on the night of December 21-22. The police have filed 335 cases, and those arrested are set to be presented in court on Sunday.

“Assam continues its fight against child marriage. In Phase 3 operations launched on the night of Dec 21-22, 416 arrests were made and 335 cases registered. The arrested individuals will be produced in court today. We will continue to take bold steps to end this social evil,” the chief minister stated on X.

The state government previously initiated a campaign against child marriage in two phases in February and October 2023. During the first phase in February, 3,483 arrests were made along with 4,515 cases registered, while the second phase in October saw 915 arrests and 710 cases filed.

In October, Sarma announced that his government is committed to eradicating child marriage in Assam by 2026. This declaration coincided with the disbursement of the first installment under the Mukha Mantri Nijut Moina scheme, which provides girls with fixed monthly payments to support their pursuit of higher education, contingent upon their remaining unmarried until they complete their degrees.

The scheme, with a total projected budget of Rs 1,500 crore, aims to benefit 10 lakh female students by transferring financial support to their accounts. The first installment, designated for 1.6 lakh identified students, was issued in alignment with the Navratri festival, with payments scheduled to be credited on the 11th of each month starting from November.

Chief Minister Sarma outlined clear guidelines for beneficiaries, stating that they must regularly attend classes, achieve satisfactory academic performance, and adhere to discipline. Importantly, the scheme excludes the daughters of Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Members of the Legislative Assembly, and it mandates that beneficiaries must not marry before completing their graduation.

He further noted that the government’s initiative against child marriage has contributed to notable improvements in maternal and infant mortality rates in the state. The Nijut Moina scheme seeks to bolster efforts against child marriage by alleviating the financial strain on the families of girls aspiring for higher education.

Under this scheme, the monthly stipend varies based on educational level, with girls in Class XII receiving Rs 1,000, those in their first year of graduation receiving Rs 1,250, and postgraduate students receiving RS 2,500, all for a duration of ten months. However, there are no restrictions on marriage for girls enrolled in postgraduate programs.