Naidu, Modi greet nation on Constitution Day

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted the nation on the occasion of Constitution Day.

"I felicitate countrymen on the occasion of Constitution Day, today. On this day, in 1949, the conscientious people of India gave themselves this Constitution prepared under able guidance of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar," Naidu said in a series of tweets.

"It is now our utmost national obligation that we live earnestly by the letter and spirit of the Constitution in our personal and community life.

"We must uphold integrity in our personal and public life, have trust and honour in constitutional bodies and processes. My hearty congratulations on the Constitution Day," the Vice President added.

Modi also took to twitter and said: "On Constitution Day we recall with pride the stellar contribution of the greats who served in our Constituent Assembly. We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it."

The Prime Minister also shared a link of the audio of his monthly radio broadcast programme "Mann Ki Baat" of Sunday where he spoke in length about the contribution of Ambedkar, who drafted the Indian Constitution.

Constitution Day (National Law Day), also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated in India on 26 November every year to commemorate the adoption of Constitution of India. On 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, and it came into effect on 26 January 1950.

The Government of India declared 26 November as Constitution Day on 19 November 2015 by a gazette notification. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi made the declaration on 11 October 2015 while laying the foundation stone of the B. R. Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai.The year of 2015 was the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, who had chaired the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly and played a pivotal role in the drafting of the constitution.

Previously this day was celebrated as Law Day. 26 November was chosen to spread the importance of the constitution and to spread thoughts and ideas of Ambedkar.