It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had set the stage for BJP’s “Emergency attack” to counter Congress‘s “save Constitution” campaign which was the central theme of opposition’s narrative in the Lok Sabha elections.The opposition parties claimed that PM Modi’s poll cry of “abki baar, 400 paar” was aimed to change the Constitution and put an end to reservations. Post elections, several BJP leaders admitted to the harm that this narrative did to the saffron party’s electoral prospects.The showdown over Constitution continued after elections as on the first day of the first session of 18th Lok Sabha INDIA bloc MPs marched to the House together. Holding copies of the Constitution in their hands, they raised slogans such as “long live Constitution”, “we will save Constitution”, “save our democracy”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to this opposition offensive by singling out the Congress over the Emergency calling it a “black spot” on democracy when the Constitution was “discarded”. Leading the attack, Prime Minister said the new generation will never forget the day when the Constitution of India was completely rejected by suppressing democracy and the country was turned into a prison.
What followed was a strong and sustained anti-Emergency campaign by the BJP and its allies targeting the Congress and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had made the proclamation for Emergency in 1975.
Subsequently, Lok Sabha adopted a resolution condemning Emergency. Speaker Om Birla read out the resolution condemning the act and said that June 25, 1975 will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India.
Birla said, “This House strongly condemns the decision to impose emergency in the country in 1975. Along with this, we appreciate the determination of all those people who strongly opposed the emergency, fought an unprecedented struggle and took the responsibility of protecting the democracy of India.”
Asserting that the Emergency had destroyed the lives of people, Birla said, “We observe two minutes of silence in the memory of such dutiful and patriotic citizens of India who lost their lives at the hands of the dictatorial government of Congress during that dark period of Emergency.”
Centre’s decision now to observe June 25 as “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” reinforces BJP’s resolve to use the “Emergency” narrative to counter opposition’s offensive on Manipur and other issues like the NEET row.
Kharge’s counter attack, INDIA bloc backs Congress
If the objective of the government’s Emergency attack was to isolate the Congress within the opposition ranks, it may not have worked. Several parties that are part of the INDIA bloc were at the receiving end of the excesses during the Emergency. However, for them it is a page in history for which the Congress and its leader Indira Gandhi were punished by the people. The opposition parties have accused the BJP government of imposing undeclared emergency in the country in the last 10 years.
Congress chief Kharge accused PM Modi of marking ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ everyday in the last 10 years. He alleged that the BJP-RSS want to implement ‘Manusmriti’ by erasing the Constitution so the rights of Dalits, tribals and backward classes can be attacked.
In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, “Narendra Modi ji, you have snatched self-respect from every poor and deprived section of the country every moment.”
The Congress chief then went on to mention incidents of crime against Dalits, minorities, demonetisation, electoral bonds, Manipur issue to attack the government over murder of Constitution.
Clearly, the battlelines have been drawn ahead of the Budget session. While the focus will be on the first Budget of PM Modi in his third term, the Manipur vs Emergency faceoff may cast a shadow once again.
(With inputs from agencies)