MUMBAI: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi is to address a BJP event on Tuesday in Mumbai that aims to express gratitude towards those who fought against the
Emergency in 1975 and dwell upon conserving the democratic values.
The Mumbai unit of the BJP has organised the event, coinciding with the 43rd anniversary of the Emergency, imposed by erstwhile Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Modi has been a bitter critic of the move to impose Emergency.
In his monthly radio programme '
Mann Ki Baat' on June 25 last year, Modi had referred to the Emergency, saying "such a black night cannot be forgotten."
The Prime Minister had said it was essential to remember the incidents which have caused harm to the democracy and move ahead towards the positive qualities of democracy.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP chief Raosaheb Danve too will attend the event.
The imposition of the Emergency had evoked a nationwide outrage and triggered a mass movement which forced Gandhi to lift it in 1977.
Modi will also inaugurate the third annual meeting of the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) here on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI file photo)