An I & B Ministry official said an image of the original Preamble to the Constitution was used to commemorate the 66th Republic Day.

The Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry’s Republic Day print advertisement on Monday omitted the words "socialist, secular" in the image of the Preamble to the Constitution triggering a furore and signature campaigns over social media platforms.

While a Ministry official said an image of the original Preamble to the Constitution was used to commemorate the 66th Republic Day, the decision has raised eyebrows, given the attacks on minorities over the past few months. The words "socialist, secular" were introduced in the Preamble through the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act in 1976.

"At a time when the people of India, and even the global community, have genuine apprehensions about the secular character of Indian democracy, … this omission is utterly condemnable,’’ said an on-line petition initiated by India Resists.

Please sign petition - Condemn the mischievous govt ad on 26th January, omitting ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from... >http://t.co/rY5HkMuviO — India Resists (@India_Resists) >January 27, 2015

Another petition in circulation sought to give the benefit of doubt to the Government by calling the omission a "typo and not done intentionally’’ while urging the Ministry to "make the necessary corrections and clarifications in right earnest."