Live: Shashi Tharoor advises not to play game with word 'secular'

2:10 pm: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor: Rajnath Singh has raised an interesting point. It is not advisable to play games on a word. There is no debate on the type of secularism being practiced in the country.

1:25 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2:10 pm.

12:50 pm: Sonia Gandhi: Congress struggled for the Constitution but today we see the basic ideals of our Constitution are under threat.

12:48 pm: Those who have no respect for the Constitution and have no role in the making of the Constitution are claiming to be keeping the Constitution

12:47 pm: Sonia Gandhi: What is happening in the last few months is totally against the values of our Constitution.

12:46 pm: Sonia Gandhi: It is undeniable that our Constitution upholds secularism: Sonia Gandhi

12:43 pm: Sonia Gandhi: Dr Ambedkar's vision was great. He worked to ensure equality and give voice to those who were discriminated in society.

12:42 pm: Sonia Gandhi: Constitution Committee was guided by four eminent personalities at all levels- Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad and Maulana Azad.

12:41 pm: Sonia Gandhi: The Constitution is closely linked to the history of Congress party.

12:39 pm: As BJP creates uproar in Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi says, "It is history, do you have any objection to it."

12:38 pm: Sonia Gandhi: It is Congress party who brought Dr Ambedkar into Constituent Assembly seeing his abilities.

12:38 pm: Sonia Gandhi: Indian Constitution is a result of decades of struggle.Mahatma Gandhiji made a huge contribution in this struggle.

12:36 pm: Sonia Gandhi pays tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar while highlighting his contribution in framing the Constitution.

12:34 pm: Congress MP Sonia Gandhi addresses Lok Sabha on the Constitution Day.

12:20 pm: Rajnath Singh: We are committed to 25% reservation of women in police and para-military forces. We're committed to women empowerment.

12:18 pm: Rajnath Singh: The government is committed to the weaker sections and the backward section of the society.

12:15 pm: Rajnath Singh: Under leadership of PM Narendra Modi, our government introduced Swachh Abhiyaan, sending across a message that there are no menial jobs.

12:06 pm: Rajnath Singh: Dr Ambedkar didn't find it necessary to insert 'Socialist' and 'Secular' words in Preamble because he felt it's already in our basic nature.

12:05 pm: Rajnath Singh: The word 'secular' is the most misused word in Indian politics.

12:01 pm: Mallikarjun Kharge: Ambedkar and we are from this country. Aryans came from outside. We are the original inhabitants of this land. Despite facing insults for thousands of years, we have been here and we continue to live in this country.

11:58 am: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge takes on Rajnath Singh on secular word, says Dr Ambedkar wanted to add secular word while framing of Constitution but he faced opposition.

11:57 am: Rajnath Singh: Secular and Socialist are two words that I believe that has been inserted in the Preamble.

11:55 am: Rajnath Singh: There cannot be any dilution on reservation. It is not a political issue but a constitutional provision for the socio-economic reasons. We believe that there cannot be any dilution in reservation

11:53 am: Rajanth Singh: There should be no discussion on reservation.

11:52 am: Rajnath Singh: People try to present Dr Ambedkar ji as a dalit leader, but I don't think he should be restricted to such a narrow purview.

11:51 am: Opposition creates uproar over Rajnath Singh's remarks that Dr BR Ambedkar never wanting to leave the country. It was a jibe at Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's remarks on intolerance.

11:47: Rajnath Singh remembers former prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the Constitution Day. "Nehru ji has a very crucial role in building India," says Rajnath Singh.

11:45 am: Rajnath Singh: Dr BR Ambedkarji had to face a lot of criticism, but he kept on presenting an objective point of view for a unified India

11:43 am: Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar. He also remembers Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. "Today on the Constitution Day, we would also like to pay my respect to Sardar Patel, who formed the foundation for united India," says Rajnath Singh.

11:42 am: Rajnath Singh: We will express our commitment towards the Indian Constitution today.

11:40 am: Rajnath Singh to Sumitra Mahajan: Your opening remark was perfect, I congratulate you for that.

11:38 am: Home Minister Rajnath Singh addresses Lok Sabha.

11:34 am: Shiromani Akali Dal MP Narensh Gujral: It is imperative that we pass the GST Bill. If Opposition tries to stall it then they would only be scoring self goals.

11:20 am: Sumitra Mahajan makes opening remarks on the Constitution Day.

11:16 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day due to the passing away of sitting member Khekiho Zhimomi of NPF.

11:15 am: Lok Sabha observes 2-minute silence in honour of the martyrs of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

11:01 am: The Winter Session of Parliament begins. Vice President Hamid Ansari addresses Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan addresses the Lower House.

10:59 am: NCP leader Tariq Anwar: We support GST bill but government should look into amendments suggested by the opposition.

10:58 am: BSP chief Mayawati: The government is assuring us that GST Bill will strengthen the economy, so we support it.

10:53 am: Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia: I pay my tributes to the principles enshrined in the Constitution and embodied by our founding fathers, whose legacies are profound. Not just as MPs, but as citizens of India, we are custodians of the Constitution and must remain committed to fulfilling its objectives.

10:35 am: MA Naqvi: Government holding discussions with all parties, overall consensus has been reached on GST

10:35 am: TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay: Opposition is divided over the GST bill. We are with the government on the Bill. We want it to be passed. This is important for the country and I hope Congress also realises it and supports GST.

10:25 am: Union Minister Jitendra Singh: People of the country want that the House should be allowed to function as important bills are pending in Parliament.

10:15 am: JDU leader KC Tyagi: We want discussion on intolerance, reservation, price rise and Nepal. We are not against the GST. Bihar is not a producing state, we need GST but we are with the Opposition. Only debate on intolerance is not enough, we need action against Mahesh Sharma, VK Singh, Giriraj Singh, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, it is only then that an honest debate on intolerance can take place. After Bihar, Opposition is united. We have become the voice of India.

10:05 am: Sitaram Yechury: Hope the Central government comes prepared to Parliament to show its commitment to the ideals espoused by Dr. Ambedkar.

10:00 am:Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets top ministers including Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari ahead of Winter session of Parliament.

9:50 am: Venkaiah Naidu: Government is very clear that we are ready to discuss every issue. Today and tomorrow, we are observing the Constitutional Day. Let us discuss about the great contribution of the founding father of the constitution. I am confident that everyday has understood the special two day sittings .I hope for mature discussion in the house

9:45 am: He also added that there is no better medium for an interaction than discussing issues in Parliament. Modi, in his famous style, said that the word hope for him stands for "H-Harmony, O-Opportunity, P-People's participation, E-Equality," he said.

9:44 am: There was a consensus among all the leaders that discussions should be held in Parliament. Everyone has shown that they are positive that debates and discussions will take place: Narendra Modi.

9:42 am: I met leaders from all parties and appealed to them to let Parliament function smoothly. I hope that all Parliamentarians will not leave any stone unturned to fulfil our responsibilities towards the House: Narendra Modi

9:40 am: Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he is hopeful that both Houses will be allowed to function without any disruption and important legislatures will be passed.

The Winter Session of Parliament will begin on Thursday with an emboldened Opposition raring to take on the Centre on the issue of intolerance and make it difficult for the Narendra Modi government to get crucial Bills passed. But before the stormy session commences and government takes up any legislative business, the first two days will be dedicated to the anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution also known as Constitution Day.

The leaders will pay tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, including a special session of Parliament with no zero hour on Thursday and Friday.

The events have political significance too as ruling the Bharatiya Janata Party is working overtime to woo Dalits, a politically crucial constituency.