Opposition leaders targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on the ‘Emergency’ made on Monday, questioning his government’s style of functioning and urging it to focus on present issues.
Addressing the media in the Parliament complex ahead of the start of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha which coincided with the anniversary of the Emergency, Modi described it as a “dark chapter” in India’s parliamentary history, when the Constitution was disregarded and the country was turned into a prison.
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Taking a dig at PM Modi’s remarks, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra said the BJP fell short of a majority in the election because the people of the country have realised that it is against the Constitution.
“From 303, the BJP is down to 240, they are running a minority government. They kept saying ‘400-paar’ but could not even get a simple majority.
“The only reason is that the people of the country have understood that there is BJP on one side and the Constitution on the other. People have chosen the Constitution,” Moitra added.
Moitra slammed the BJP government at the Centre, accusing it of imposing an “undeclared emergency” in the country. “I was not born during the first Emergency, but they (BJP) had been running an undeclared emergency for the last 10 years and the people of the country said it would not be allowed,” the TMC leader added.
In contrast, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai stressed that the era of the Emergency has passed and urged the government to focus on current issues.”The Emergency period has gone, but what is the situation today? No one likes recalling the Emergency… I hope the dark days don’t return,” he said.
Meanwhile, RSP leader N K Premchandran echoed a similar sentiment, deeming discussions about the 1975 Emergency irrelevant today.
“It happened in 1975, 50 years have lapsed, it is totally irrelevant. We are talking about things that are happening at present. It is insignificant talking about the 1975 Emergency at this juncture,” he added.
On the other side, Chandrashekhar, an MP from the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), urged the Prime Minister to align his actions with his statements.
“It would have been good if what he was saying had reflected in his work. In this Parliament itself, over 140 MPs were suspended and laws were passed. Hope this government, which is not as popular, will respect the people’s sentiments and not impose any law,” he said.
“The Constitution is the foundation of this country,” Chandrashekhar added.