BJP leaders attack Congress on 41st anniversary of Emergency

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a series of tweets that the RSS, erstwhile Jansangh and opposition parties fought the battle together

On the 41st anniversary of the Emergency, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including several Union ministers, today attacked Congress, saying its design to bring "authoritarianism" was defeated by the then united opposition and asked it to "repent".

In a series of tweets, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said Sangh (RSS), the erstwhile Jansangh and opposition parties fought the battle together and the people supported it.

"41 years ago, Congress declared emergency and brought authoritarianism and tried to end democracy. Sangh, Jansangh and opposition parties together fought the battle and people supported it. That is why the danger to the democracy was finished and intentions of authoritarianism was destroyed," he tweeted.

Javadekar, who was among the imprisoned leaders during the Emergency, said that Yervada jail had then turned into a "political university".

The "Emergency" refers to a 21-month period in 1975-77 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had declared a state of emergency across the country.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh tweeted: "On June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency. A day for Congress to repent and realise that the country belongs to common (man) not Congress."

BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said democracy was "throttled" on this day which can never be forgotten.

In a tweet, Union minister J P Nadda said, "A grateful nation remembers thousands of unsung heroes from Bhartiya Jan Sangh and RSS who led anti-emergency movement from the front undeterred by the draconian measures imposed by the then Congress government (sic)".