NEW DELHI: RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale has demanded that the words 'socialism’ and ‘secularism' be removed from the preamble of the Constitution. These words were inserted forcibly during the Emergency period, he said while speaking at a function on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency.

'The Congress should apologize for imposing Emergency 50 years ago. Terms like 'socialism’ and secularism', which define Indian democracy, were forcibly inserted to the Constitution at that time. We should think whether these words are needed there now. The Congress, which did this then, has not apologized yet,' said Dattatreya.

Dattatreya also indirectly criticized Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. 'Those who added such words in the past are now walking around calling it the Constitution. Your ancestors did it. You should apologize to the country for that,' Dattatreya added.

Dattatreya was speaking at a function held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in Delhi to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. The event was jointly organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ambedkar International Centre and multilingual dialogue organization Hindustan Samachar. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was the chief guest at the event.