On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared by the Congress government under Indira Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing critique, accusing Congress and its allies of persistently undermining the Constitution.
Addressing media at his official residence, Chief Minister Adityanath asserted that despite changes in leadership, the fundamental character and actions of the Congress have remained unaltered since 1975. He recalled the draconian measures of the Emergency, including the Congress’s attempt to amend the Constitution’s Preamble, the suspension of fundamental rights of citizens, and the subjugation of judicial independence.
“Fifty years ago, on this day, a dark chapter was etched when the Congress government conspired to throttle democracy by strangling India’s Constitution,” remarked Chief Minister Adityanath, highlighting the night of June 25, 1975, when democracy was suppressed through the incarceration of prominent opposition figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Morarji Desai, Jai Prakash Narayan, and Lal Krishna Advani.
He pointed out that Congress’s authoritarian tendencies were evident even post-Independence, notably with the forceful inclusion of Article 370 within two years of adopting the Constitution, challenging the nation’s unity.
“Over the decades, Congress has persistently sought to weaken democratic institutions, employing tactics like media suppression and other indirect methods. The culmination of these actions was witnessed on June 25, 1975,” added Chief Minister Adityanath.
Accusing the current Congress leadership of hypocrisy, he criticized their behavior of questioning India’s electoral processes and democracy on international platforms while professing support for democracy domestically. He alleged that they deflect internal inefficiencies by blaming Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and obstructing electoral processes.
Chief Minister Adityanath asserted that the Congress continues on the path it chose in 1975, evident in the attitudes and actions of Congress-led governments today.
He also criticized Congress’s current allies, questioning their alignment with a party that once imprisoned their predecessors for defending democracy and civil rights. Expressing dismay, he accused these leaders of now aiding efforts to regress towards dictatorship and anti-democratic policies.
“If you observe the operational methods of Congress allies, whether in states like Bengal with TMC, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or elsewhere, they mislead the public and disrupt parliamentary proceedings under the guise of upholding the Constitution,” Chief Minister Adityanath argued.
He urged Congress leaders to introspect whether they have genuinely adhered to constitutional principles, citing instances like a senior Congress leader tearing a bill on Parliament’s floor, actions he claimed have consistently undermined democratic norms.
Chief Minister Adityanath concluded by stating that the people of India will neither forgive the Congress for these transgressions nor accept political parties that support Congress’s authoritarian inclinations. On this significant anniversary, he called upon Congress and its allies to apologize to the nation for repeatedly disregarding constitutional provisions.
