Narendra Modi attacks Congress for imposing Emergency, calls for 'eternal vigil'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday said the 197577 Emergency was a dark period that the nation could never forget and called for making democracy stronger by writing debating deliberating and questioning its vital aspects and pledged his full commitment to protecting the Indian Constitution and DemocracySimultaneously he took the opportunity attack the Congress Party and its leaders taking care not to name any members of the GandhiNehru family saying the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP was not observing a Black Day merely to criticise the Congress but to make the modern youth aware of what happened during EmergencyIndia remembers its as a dark period when 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 The youth have no idea what happened then and they cannot imagine how living without freedom can be Modi saidInterestingly Modis comments came in Mumbai where the Indian National Congress INC was founded on December 28 1885 132 years ago by a group of nationalists to launch the countrys freedom struggle against the British Empire It also came a day after union minister Arun Jaitley called the then Prime Minister the late Indira Gandhi as Hitler and in Mumbai where BJP ally and Shiv Senas exMayor Snehal Ambekar had compared Modi with the German dictator leading to a massive political furore exactly three years agoAddressing a meeting at the Birla Matoshri Autitorium Modi hailed the spirit of those citizens who firmly opposed the Emergency that came into force on June 25 1975 leading to suspension of the fundamental rights Whenever the Congress and especially this one family apprehends losing power they start shouting and raise the bogey that the country and democracy are in danger and there is an atmosophere of fear and they alone can save it Modi saidHe accused the Gandhi family of breaking the INC built by the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders in their lust for power and how it subverted all democratic institutions including the Constitution the parliament the elections the judiciary and the media for the benefit of one familyModi said they did everything but cleverly remained within the limits of the Constitution but years later the family never imagined that the courts would frame corruption charges against them and they would be enlarged on bail So now they tried to scare the highest echelons of the judiciary by bringing in an impeachment motion during Emergency judges were abruptly transferreda and their arrogant mentality remains unchanged even today Modi saidBesides canards were spread against the RSS and Jan Sangh which later became the BJP that they are antiMuslims and antiDalit and they would butcher them all for the lust for power of the familyI 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 Media persons like the late Ramnath Goenka and the late CR Irani and senior journalist Kuldip Nayar braved all odds and censorship to continue fighting for democracy Modi saidIn the past all parties had respected the Election Commission of India ECI baring one party which has now been reduced from 400 to 44 seats in Lok Sabha So now they target the ECI they attack the Electronic Voting Machinesa Modi pointed outHe said those who crushed the Constitution and imprisoned Democracy cannot be trusted but they are now alleging that Modi will destroy the Constitution but assured that we are different Despite ruling for 70 years you never celebrated the Constitutiona We started it in Parliament and right upto the school levels We want to strengthen it even more the PM saidLet us always work to make our democratic ethos stronger Writing debating deliberating questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution We must remain aever vigilant in coming times he urgedThe Emergency lasted till March 21 1977 The Congress led by Indira Gandhi then was voted out of power in the elections that were held soon after Earlier Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai Congress President Ashish Shelar also addressed the gathering 1975 Apaatkaal Loktantra par Aaghat where state BJP President Raosaheb PatilDanve was also presentAlso Read PM Modi To Address BJPs Mumbai Event Being Held To Hail AntiEmergency FightersCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without 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