Bhopal, Jun 25 (PTI) On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said the contribution of the Sangh Parivar and the then opposition leaders in the restoration of democracy was “historic”.
He demanded that the current Congress brass apologise to the people of the country for the “stigma” of the Emergency.
Due to the struggles of those who fought against the Emergency, India has now become the largest and most vibrant republic in the world, Yadav said in a statement.
The ruling BJP is observing the anniversary of the imposition of Emergency by then prime minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’.
The 21-month period had seen the suspension of civil liberties, the arrest of opposition leaders and the suppression of press freedom.
“The contribution of the Sangh Parivar and the then opposition leaders in the restoration of democracy is historic. Many patriotic organisations, including the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, played an important role in the protection and restoration of democracy,” Yadav said.
The struggle against the Emergency was exactly the same as the fight for the country’s Independence, the chief minister said.
“The then influential opposition leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Morarji Bhai Desai, Chaudhary Charan Singh and others played a courageous role in the struggle to save democracy,” he said.
“Our party and our ideological family have made an important contribution in saving democracy and establishing India as a strong republic at the international level today,” the CM said, saluting those who fought against the Emergency and for the country’s freedom.
Speaking to reporters in Indore, Yadav accused the Congress of making a mockery of the Constitution.
“Congress put the stigma of Emergency on the country when the democracy was held captive. For this, the current leadership of the Congress should apologise to the public,” he said. PTI MAS HWP GK NSK
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