Emergency darkest spot: Shah

BJP’s president Amit Shah on Tuesday felicitated those from Gujarat who not only opposed the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress Government in June 1975 but also went in jail under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act, 1971.

Addressing the gathering at Ahmedabad Shah said the Emergency was the darkest spot in the history of free India and hence BJP observe June 25 as ‘Black Day’ every year. On that day in 1975 then Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency across India. Then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed official issued notification under Article of 352 of the Constitution because of the prevailing ‘internal disturbance’. The Emergency was in effect till 21 March 1977.

According to BJP chief during almost two years of the Emergency people were tortured, especially those who were associated with RSS and Jan Sangh. He said that Congress ruled for long period but the oldest party only promoted family owned and community based politics coupled with politics of appeasement.  He went on to say that Congress party continuously tried to weaken democracy.

Taking a dig on the Congress he said those who didn’t believe in democracy brought the Emergency. The BJP had lost Government in 13 days but always respected democratic values, he said, adding the BJP has never ever thought to impose Emergency.

“During the Emergency 43 years ago most of the popular leaders were put behind the bars. However, the Congress had to face the result as in the Lok Sabha elections of 1977, both the top leaders of Congress Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi lost from their respective constituencies,” he said.

Meanwhile Shah also remained present in review meeting of Daman, Diu, Dadara and Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha constituency at the State BJP headquarters ‘Shri Kamalam’.