Why Cong becomes defensive on mention of Emergency Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Kharge

    Mumbai, Jun 25 (PTI) Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday dubbed the imposition of the Emergency 50 years ago the biggest assault on the Constitution by Congress and slammed the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for his "drama" jibe at BJP.
    After Kharge accused the BJP of staging a "drama" of observing 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas', Prasad hit back, saying the Congress had launched direct attacks on Parliamentary democracy.
    Addressing reporters on the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, Prasad also attacked opposition leader Rahul Gandhi over his "Constitution in danger" remark.
    "I want to ask him who attacked the Constitution more than the Congress during the Emergency? Why this hypocrisy?" asked the senior BJP leader.
    His party never apologised for jailing 1.5 lakh people and 253 journalists. Instead, Rajiv Gandhi later said the Emergency was appropriate, Prasad said.
    Responding to Kharge's remarks, Prasad asked, "Why does the Congress get so defensive? I want to ask them a pertinent question what is your problem with accepting the truth?"
    He claimed the Congress brought in changes to prevent the PM's election from being challenged, extended Parliament's tenure to six years, and even removed the quorum requirement. "These were direct attacks on parliamentary democracy".
    He alleged that during the Emergency (1975-77), writing was censored, the licences of 52 foreign journalists were revoked, and 29 scribes, including BBC's Mark Tully, were denied entry into India.
    What kind of constitutional respect is this, when even foreign media was targeted, he asked.
    Prasad alleged judicial interference was attempted during the Emergency.
    "Judges were transferred, and some were not even confirmed. Nine high courts stood up against the government, but when the matter went to the Supreme Court, it upheld the Emergency," Prasad said.
    He said only one judge, H R Khanna, who dissented was denied the chief justice's post for showing courage. The Congress punished him for standing by democracy, he alleged.
    Prasad said the BJP is observing the day as Constitution Murder Day'.
    He said the Emergency was imposed without even taking the Cabinet into confidence.
    Referring to the allegations of high-handedness during a sterilisation drive pushed by Sanjay Gandhi, Prasad said, "Sixty lakh people were forcibly sterilised, including unmarried men. What justification does the Congress have for this? Why did they never apologise?"
    He said the people saved democracy in India by voting Indira Gandhi out of power in the 1977 elections after the Emergency was lifted.
    According to Prasad, "an extreme level of sycophancy towards the leadership" was one of the features of Emergency.
    The former Union minister said that the ruling BJP is committed to preserving democracy and transparency in public life.
    "At the time of the Emergency, (PM) Narendra Modi was just a young man wearing a turban and working in Gujarat. Today, as prime minister, he is upholding the values the Congress once undermined," he said.
    Responding to a question, Prasad remarked, "What can we do if the Congress party keeps losing elections? Whether it's Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge, the trend of defeat continues".
    He said the Congress' slide would continue unabated owing to the overall conduct of the party and the "poor behaviour" of Rahul Gandhi.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)