Basic structure of Constitution is unamendable: Shivraj Patil

A few parts of the Indian Constitution are amendable but it is not right to talk about amending or changing the basic structure of the Constitution, said former Union Home minister Shivraj Patil.

Speaking to reporters Shivraj Patil, also the former Lok Sabha speaker, said, "When the Congress party was in power at the Centre more then 100 amendments were made to the Constitution. But the amendments that were brought to the Constitution in the past didn't affect the basic structure of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has held that the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be amended/changed," he said.

"A few elected representatives argue that the word secular be dropped from the preamble of the Constitution. This is not possible. There is a need to protect the aspirations of the Constitution. The citizens should protest if any one speaks ill against the Constitution," Shivraj Patil said.

To a query on triple talaq, the former Lok Sabha speaker said, "The Union government is trying to criminalise the civil matter. Also, why is the BJP-led NDA government opposing the demand to get the triple talaq bill reviewed by a Parliamentary committee," Patil wondered.

On the demand for separate religion tag for Lingayats, Shivraj Patil said, "I don't want to be a judge on the matter."