New Delhi: The fight against the Emergency has kept the Indian democracy alive, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, insisting that the memories of the dark days imposed by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ should never be allowed to fade away. Addressing the 'Aapatkaal Ke 50 Saal' programme, HM Amit Shah said, "It has been 50 years in the documents, but even today, the wound in the hearts of crores of Indians inflicted by the tyranny of the Congress remains as fresh as it was during the Emergency."
Taking an aim at the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, without naming him, HM Shah said: “I want to ask leaders who swear by the Constitution: What right do you have to talk about the Constitution? What did your party do during the Emergency? Was any permission taken from Parliament?”
“I want to remind these leaders that they belong to the same party, which turned into a destroyer of the Constitution,” he said.
He said during the Emergency, the entire country had turned into a prison. Everyone was thrown into jail cells, and no one was given a chance to hear.
The judiciary, executive, legislature, media and artists were all enraged but unable to react, he said.
Leaders like George Fernandes and Acharya Kriplani were jailed and, that too, without any explanation, he said.
Some people question the benefits of remembering an incident that took place 50 years ago, but I insist that the exercise is a powerful means to guard against the return of such dark days, he said. “An event that shook the foundation of a democratic nation and dictatorial mindset should be remembered to prevent their supporters from rearing their heads again,” he said. (IANS)
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