PM, other BJP leaders recall Emergency, flay Cong for gagging media, bullying courts
PM, other BJP leaders recall Emergency, flay Cong for gagging media, bullying courts
M.U.H
26/06/2019673
The BJP leaders and state governments run by the saffron party on Tuesday made use of the anniversary of national Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi regime in 1970s and castigated the Congress for gagging the media and arm-twisting the judiciary.
None other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the charge.
"India salutes all those greats who fiercely and fearlessly resisted the Emergency. India’s democratic ethos successfully prevailed over an authoritarian mindset," Mr Modi tweeted early morning.
Later in the day replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks to President's address to Parliament, Prime Minister questioned lawmakers in the presence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi asking:
"Who trampled over the spirit of Constitution?"
"We cannot forget the dark days,' he said in Lok Sabha recalling how media freedom was muzzled and the authority of the judiciary was trampled with.
"Emergency was imposed on this date when the Constitution was trampled over, media was gagged & judiciary bullied? We should not forget those dark days so that no one thinks of repeating them," Mr Modi said.
In reference to corruption cases against Congress leaders, Prime Minister maintained he is not running a regime under Emergency rules and thus the wrong doers would go to jail only at the orders of the court.
"If there are bail orders, let them enjoy," he remarked in reference to Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury stating in Lok Sabha on Monday that if there was anything seriously wrong against Congress leaders they should have been jailed.
'Did you manage to catch anybody in 2G and Coal scam? Did you manage to send Sonia Gandhi ji and Rahul Gandhi ji behind the bars", Mr Chowdhury had challenged the Modi government.
In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on the anniversary of Emergency those who were imprisoned during the period will be provided pension and a citation.
"Pension was an honour more than money", he said in the state assembly.
In the BJP run state, applications are to be scrutinised by a committee headed by the district collector concerned and only genuine ones are given the pension. The state government has sanctioned a
budget of Rs 42 crore and out of this about Rs 29 crore has been disbursed.
Subhash Patil (of Peasants and Workers' Party) said his father and uncle served 18 months in jail during the Emergency.
In Uttar Pradesh, 'Loktantra Senanis' of Uttar Pradesh, who were jailed during Emergency observed the 44th anniversary of the black law.
"Leaders and students opposing the Emergency were sent behind bars," said president Brij Kishore Mishra of the UP unit of Aapatkal Loktantra Senani Samiti.
UP Minister Archana Pandey, who was also present on the occasion, recalled the torture suffered by his father during Emergency days.
Emergency was imposed across the country by the Congress leader and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975 which remained in effect till March 21, 1977.
In his speech, Mr Modi said in Lok Sabha: All that was done and people's fundamental rights were suspended just to ensure that one "individual does not lose power".
BJP Working President JP Nadda in his missive said imposition of Emergency Rule in the country in 1975 was like a "black blot".
Union Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah in his missive recalled how newspapers were shut and how even fundamental rights of the citizens were deprived.
Among others, BJP leader P Murlidhar Rao observed anti emergency day program at BJP Telangana state office in Hyderabad.
Defence Minister and former BJP chief Rajnath Singh in his tweet said: "The declaration of Emergency on June 25, 1975 and the incidents that followed, mark as one of the darkest chapters in India’s history. On this day, we the people of India should always remember the importance of upholding the integrity our institutions and the Constitution".