The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday urged the Centre to rewrite the Indian Constitution afresh in tune with the changing needs, while preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

Delivering his customary address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Governor S S Barnala said about 100 amendments have been made so far to the Constitution to take care of emerging unavoidable needs.

"In the evolution of mankind, change is inevitable. In several countries, constitutions have been rewritten many a time," he said adding, that leaders of various political parties and eminent jurists have been emphasising the need for rewriting the Constitution.

He also recalled late chief minister C N Annadurai's maiden speech in Rajya Sabha 40 years back that "Stalwarts of this country sat and devised our Constitution. But the time has come for rethinking, reappraisal and revaluation."

He said in the last 50 years, the nation's political, social and economic facets and the needs of the working class have radically changed.

People belonging to the Backward, Most Backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had to do tight rope walking to defend their rights and to ensure due social justice, including minorities and gender rights.

"The need for transfer of more powers to states by reviewing the division of powers between the states and the Union to ensure that true and wholesome federalism prevails and the wheels of social justice revolve without any hindrance is increasing day by day," he said and urged the Centre to rewrite the Constitution afresh.