The BJP is getting the poll-ready and seems to using emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975., going by the aggressive statements coming of PM Narendra Modi and party top leaders.
Modi sought to flip the intolerance debate on Congress saying bid to impeach CJI shows emergency mindset of congress .
The BJP observed “Black Day” across the nation marking the 43rd anniversary of 1975 Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In India, “the Emergency” refers to a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution because of the prevailing “internal disturbance”, the Emergency was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977. The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed.
Press Conferences were held by the top party leaders across the nation. During the press conferences, the ruling party focused on how the Emergency period was the darkest period of independent India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi , cleared BJP’s agenda behind observing ‘black day’ stating that the day needs to be observed to dedicate oneself to protection of the Constitution and democracy.
However, Senior party leaders and union ministers left no stone unturned to target the opposition at press conferences, seminars and hall meeting programmes held across the country while observing the ‘black day’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit hard and minced no words while addressing an event in Mumbai. He fulminated against Indira Gandhi government and party saying, “The country never thought that just for lust for power and servility to one family, India would be made into one big jail. Every person lived in fear. Constitution was misused.” Modi has always been a bitter critic of the former Prime Minister’s move to impose emergency. He also tweeted “India remembers the Emergency as a dark period during which every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics.”
In today’s event at Mumbai, he mocked the Congress for crying foul play in the EVM machines during the elections.
He also attacked Congress for spreading lies and creating fear among Dalits and minorities .
He asserted that India’s youth in this generation would never know what it was to live without freedom.
The direct attack of BJP elicited an intense reaction from the Congress, which connected Modi to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, whose rule has been described as oppressive by most historians. There is an “atmosphere of fear” in the Prime Minister’s administration, in which everyone is branded “anti-national”, the party said.
“In this time of Aurangzeb, is everybody not branded anti-national if he questions? Are Dalits not beaten and disrespected? Are people not murdered for eating habits, caste, creed?” stated Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. Aurangzeb never took lessons from anybody”, Mr Surjewala said in an apparent dig at PM Modi’s explanation that Emergency should be remembered for its lessons. “The truth is that Modi is seeking history’s refuge to hide his non-performance, but he doesn’t realize he will become history himself,” he quipped .
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel questioned if the BJP will apologize for the “undeclared emergency” of the past four years and said, “In this time of Aurangzeb, is everybody not branded anti-nation , he questions? Are Dalits not beaten and disrespected? Are people not murdered for eating habits, caste, creed?”
Aurangzeb “never took lessons from anybody”, Mr Surjewala said in an apparent dig at PM Modi.
Interestingly , when there is already speculation over whether Modi magic is waning and whether BJP will return to power with a majority in 2019 , the party seems to be working hard to use the emergency factor as a weapon .
