‘People lost rights for one family’s lust for power’

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

In the wake of various non-Congress parties raising voice against the Emergency declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi 43 years back, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, who was on a day’s visit to the State on Tuesday, too targeted the Congress and termed the Emergency a ‘Black Day’ in the history of Indian democracy.

“The Congress had declared Emergency only to give ‘power to rule’ to a particular family. For this, people of the country were deprived of their democratic rights and the Judiciary and the Press lost their specialty. The day it was declared was really a Black Day,” Irani told a Press conference here.

Remembering Odisha people’s contribution for safeguarding democracy during the 1975 Emergency, she said, “I have come to pay tributes to 900 Satyagrahis and 300 MISA prisoners of Odisha for their sacrifices to protect democracy during the 1975 Emergency.”

Irani stated that leaders like Harekrushna Mahtab, Biju Patnaik, Nabakrushna Choudhury, Rabi Ray and Biswabhushan Harichandan had worked hard for safeguarding democracy during such tough times.

On the occasion, Irani also criticised the State’s BJD Government for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide healthcare to poor people.

 “The Centre has targeted to provide health coverage of Rs 5 lakh to nearly 10 crore poor families in the country. I am hopeful that Odisha Government will respond to the health needs of people and implemented the scheme,” the Union Minister added.

Among others, BJP president Basant Panda, Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo, vice-president Sameer Mohanty, spokespersons Golak Prasad Mohapatra and Sudipta Ray, State secretary Simantini Jena and Mahila Morcha president Pravati Parida were present.

Earlier, Irani had attended an intellectuals’ meeting organised by the BJP Intellectual Cell.

Attending the party’s ‘Sampark for Samarthan’ programme, Irani met Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and noted Sambalpuri weaver Padmashri Chaturbhuja Meher at their respective residences and narrated the Narendra Modi Government’s achievements of the last four years before them.