CR marks Samvidhan Diwas across its divisions

Central Railway on Wednesday marked Samvidhan Diwas or Constitution Day by organising the collective reading of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution across its divisions and workshops an official statement saidAt Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus CSMT Heritage Building foyer Additional General Manager Prateek Goswami led officers and staff in reciting the PreambleThe event highlighted the commitment of Central Railway employees to uphold the core constitutional values of justice liberty equality and fraternity officials saidConstitution Day is observed every year on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949Similar Preamble readings and awareness activities were held at various Central Railway divisions and workshops to mark the occasionMeanwhile President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that the Constitution is the cornerstone of Indiarsquos national identity guiding the country away from a colonial mindset and towards a stronger more selfreliant futureShe was speaking at the Constitution Day programme held in the Central Hall of the Old Parliament building now known as Samvidhan SadanThe president said India is presenting a new model of development to the world and has taken major steps to meet the aspirations of its citizens Calling the Constitution a ldquodocument of national priderdquo she said it reflects the spirit of a nation determined to move forward with confidenceMurmu highlighted the introduction of the new criminal laws mdash the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam These replaced the colonialera Indian Penal Code Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act of 1872 The new laws came into effect on 1 July 2024She said Indiarsquos Constitutionmakers ensured that personal and democratic rights remain protected Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir Murmu said the removal of the provision freed the nation from a ldquopolitical obstaclerdquoThe president also mentioned the ban on triple talaq and the adoption of GST describing them as major steps in womenrsquos empowerment and financial reformMurmu said India is moving rapidly towards becoming the worldrsquos thirdlargest economy adding that 25 crore people have risen out of poverty She noted that women young people Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes farmers and the middle classes are contributing to a stronger democratic systemDuring the event she launched a digital version of the Constitution in nine languages mdash Malayalam Marathi Nepali Punjabi Bodo Kashmiri Telugu Odia and Assamese The programme also included a ceremonial reading of the Preamble led by the presidentAmong those present were VicePresident C P Radhakrishnan Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and Union ministers J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju A commemorative booklet on the original Constitutionrsquos calligraphy was also released