Launching a hard-hitting attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the party still suffered from Emergency era mindset and it did not think of anything but the interests of "one family".
Narendra Modi was addressing a public function in Mumbai on the occasion of 43rd anniversary of Emergency. The BJP is observing Black Day to mark the occasion across the country.
Modi said the Emergency was the outcome of misuse of the constitution for selfish personal interests of 'one family' and entire country was turned into jail . “Those who love democracy celebrate this day every year. The Emergency is a black spot on our democracy. This day has to be remembered not just to criticise them (the Congress) but to make young generation aware and remind ourselves of our commitment and responsibility toward democracy,” stated Modi.
He recalled how atmosphere of fear prevailed everywhere as prominent opposition leaders were arrested one after the other. “Whenever the party faces any crisis, when one family fears that it will lose power, they start shouting about country being in fear, that our country is being destroyed and only they can save it from the destruction,” he said.
Modi also said that the 'family' had destroyed the original party for their benefit and when that had happened it was a signal that tradition, values, constitution do not matter to them.
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Accusing Congress for devaluing the judiciary for the benefit of 'one family's greed for power' Modi said, these people could not imagine that charges of corruption could be framed against them in the court and they would have to seek bail. “So they tried to scare the judiciary by bringing an impeachment motion. Their mentality is same as it was during the emergency,” he said referring to impeachment motion in Parliament against chief justice Dipak Misra.
Modi further stated that when they came down to 44 from 400 they started shouting against an institution like the Election Commission. “Then they started finding faults with EVM machines. I am surprised how they did not blame EVMs after Karnataka results.”
Modi also remembered the contribution of the likes of Ramnath Goenka, Kuldip Nayar, etc. “Nayar is a harsh critic of us but I salute him for his fight against the emergency,” said Modi.
He blamed Congress for creating imaginary fear in the mind of people. “They keep saying RSS and BJP will kill Muslims and dalits. Those who turned our country to jail are creating this imaginary fear that our government will destroy the constitution. But the party which itself does not have inner-party democracy, how can it guarantee safety of democracy and constitution,” asked Modi.
He said that his government was committed to protecting the constitution and upholding democratic values.