Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (June 25) launched a direct attack on the 45th anniversary of the Emergency that was declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, saying that the Congress still has a mindset similar to the Emergency days.
Referring to the recent sacking of senior Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha and some other incidents, Shah said, "During the recent CWC meet, senior members and younger members raised a few issues. But, they were shouted down. A party spokesperson was unceremoniously sacked. The sad truth is, leaders are feeling suffocated in Congress.”
During the recent CWC meet, senior members and younger members raised a few issues. But, they were shouted down.
A party spokesperson was unceremoniously sacked.
The sad truth is- leaders are feeling suffocated in Congress. https://t.co/GEbdKpn7A8https://t.co/Efsa8HWN82
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2020
It may be recalled that Sanjay Jha was removed as Congress spokesperson few days ago after he wrote a critical article in a newspaper, saying that “there was no sense of urgency” in the party.
The Union Home Minister also posed a series of questions to the Congress and said, “As one of India’s opposition parties, Congress needs to ask itself: Why does the Emergency mindset remain? Why are leaders who don’t belong to 1 dynasty unable to speak up? Why are leaders getting frustrated in Congress? Else, their disconnect with people will keep widening.”
As one of India’s opposition parties, Congress needs to ask itself:
Why does the Emergency mindset remain?
Why are leaders who don’t belong to 1 dynasty unable to speak up?
Why are leaders getting frustrated in Congress?
Else, their disconnect with people will keep widening.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2020
Reminding the Congress about the Emergency, Shah said that the greed of one family to remain in power led to the imposition of Emergency in 1975. “On this day, 45 years ago one family’s greed for power led to the imposition of the Emergency. Overnight the nation was turned into a prison. The press, courts, free speech...all were trampled over. Atrocities were committed on the poor and downtrodden,” he tweeted.
On this day, 45 years ago one family’s greed for power led to the imposition of the Emergency. Overnight the nation was turned into a prison. The press, courts, free speech...all were trampled over. Atrocities were committed on the poor and downtrodden.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2020
“Due to efforts of lakhs of people, the Emergency was lifted. Democracy was restored in India but it remained absent in the Congress. The interests of one family prevailed over party interests and national interests. This sorry state of affairs thrives in today’s Congress too,” Shah said in another tweet.
Due to efforts of lakhs of people, the Emergency was lifted. Democracy was restored in India but it remained absent in the Congress. The interests of one family prevailed over party interests and national interests. This sorry state of affairs thrives in today’s Congress too!
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2020
Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also launched a scathing attack on the Congress and said, "On 25th June 1975 draconian Emergency was imposed by the Congress Govt led by PM Indira Gandhi. Major opposition leaders including Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, Bharat Ratna Atal Behari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, Chandrashekhar and lakhs of people of India were arrested."
On 25th June 1975 draconian Emergency was imposed by the Congress Govt led by PM Indira Gandhi. Major opposition leaders including Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, Bharat Ratna Atal Behari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, Chandrashekhar and lakhs of people of India were arrested.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 25, 2020
After the imposition of Emergency, the freedom of the press was taken away and many senior journalists were sent to jail. Several leaders, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Morarji Desai were arrested for opposing Emergency. During this period, 11 lakh people were arrested and sent to jails across the country.
