PM Narendra Modi Launches Scathing Attack on Congress Over Emergency, Says 'India Was Made a Big Jail Just For One Family'

Mumbai, June 26: Leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) charge at an event organized by the party's Mumbai unit on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress over imposing emergency in 1975. Taking a dig at Congress, the Prime Minister said emergency was imposed only to save one family, turning Indian into a big jail. He said the party which has no internal democracy cannot be expected to follow the ideals of a democracy.

The Prime Minister said the emergency, imposed by erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, is a blot in Indian history. Terming emergency as an unforgettable sin, he said the dynasty rule by the Congress not only destroyed democracy but also attacked the freedom of press and judiciary.

Slamming the Congress, the Prime Minister said every person lived in fear and the Constitution too was misused during this time. "We are not observing black day(Emergency) just to criticize the Congress, we want to make the youth of today aware of what happened", Modi said.

Watch Video: PM Modi's speech in Mumbai on 1975 Emergency 

Addressing the 44th anniversary of Emergency the Prime Minister hit back at the Congress party for its record in protecting democracy. He said emergency was an attack on democracy and that the Constitution served only one family in 1975.

"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", PM Modi said. "I salute the courage of all those great women and men who steadfastly resisted the Emergency, which was imposed 43 years ago. Their struggles ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties", he added.

In June last year, during his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister had referred to the Emergency, saying "such a black night cannot be forgotten." He had stated that it was essential to remember the incidents which have caused harm to the democracy and move ahead towards the positive qualities of democracy. The Emergency had evoked a nationwide outrage and triggered a mass movement in the country.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had inaugurated the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In his address, the Prime Minister said a New India is rising and the country now stands on the pillars of economic opportunity for all, knowledge economy, holistic development, and futuristic, resilient and digital infrastructure.

“Government is firmly committed to the path of fiscal consolidation. “Government debt as a percentage of GDP is consistently declining. India has achieved a rating upgrade after a long time”, he said. “Our macro-economic fundamentals are strong with stable prices, a robust external sector and a fiscal situation firmly in control. Despite rising oil prices, inflation is within the mandated range”, the Prime Minister added.

The state government had decided to give pension to political prisoners of the Emergency. Reports inform that the Maharashtra government had decided to give pension to political prisoners during the 21-month period when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country.

It must be noted that the development comes after several political parties including Congress and Shiv Sena slammed the BJP over the violence going on in the Kashmir valley, the ceasefire during Ramzan and various other issues.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).