Archives for June 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday said the 1975-77 Emergency was a “dark period” that the nation could never forget and called for making democracy stronger by “writing, debating, deliberating, and questioning” its vital aspects and pledged his full commitment to protecting the Indian Constitution and Democracy.

Simultaneously, he took the opportunity attack the Congress Party and its leaders – taking care not to name any members of the Gandhi-Nehru family – saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not observing a ‘Black Day’ merely to criticise the Congress, but to make the modern youth aware of what happened during Emergency.

“India remembers its as a dark period when every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics. The youth have no idea what happened then and they cannot imagine how living without freedom can be,” Modi said.

Interestingly, Modi’s comments came in Mumbai where the Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885, 132 years ago by a group of nationalists to launch the country’s freedom struggle against the British Empire.

It also came a day after union minister Arun Jaitley called the then Prime Minister, the late Indira Gandhi as ‘Hitler’ – and in Mumbai, where BJP ally and Shiv Sena’s ex-Mayor Snehal Ambekar had compared Modi with the German dictator, leading to a massive political furore exactly three years ago.

Addressing a meeting at the Birla Matoshri Autitorium, Modi hailed the spirit of those citizens who firmly opposed the Emergency that came into force on June 25, 1975, leading to suspension of the fundamental rights.

“Whenever the Congress – and especially this one family – apprehends losing power, they start shouting and raise the bogey that the country and democracy are in danger and there is an atmosophere of fear, and they alone can save it,” Modi said.

He accused the (Gandhi) family of breaking the INC – built by the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders – “in their lust for power”, and how it subverted all democratic institutions including the Constitution, the parliament, the elections, the judiciary and the media, “for the benefit of one family”.

Modi said they did everything but cleverly remained within the limits of the Constitution, but years later the family never imagined that the courts would frame corruption charges against them and they would be enlarged on bail.

“So, now they tried to scare the highest echelons of the judiciary by bringing in an impeachment motion during Emergency, judges were abruptly transferreda and their arrogant mentality remains unchanged even today,” Modi said.

Besides, canards were spread against the RSS and Jan Sangh (which later became the BJP), that they are anti-Muslims and anti-Dalit and they would butcher them, all for the lust for power of the family.

“I salute the courage of all those great women and men who steadfastly resisted the Emergency, which was imposed 43 years ago. Their struggles ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties. Media persons like the late Ramnath Goenka and the late C.R. Irani, and senior journalist Kuldip Nayar braved all odds and censorship to continue fighting for democracy, Modi said.

“In the past all parties had respected the Election Commission of India (ECI), baring one party, which has now been reduced from 400 to 44 (seats in Lok Sabha). So now they target the ECI, they attack the Electronic Voting Machinesa” Modi pointed out.

He said those who “crushed the Constitution and imprisoned Democracy cannot be trusted, but they are now alleging that “Modi will destroy the Constitution,” but assured that “we are different.

“Despite ruling for 70 years, you never celebrated the Constitutiona We started it in Parliament and right upto the school levels. We want to strengthen it even more,” the PM said.

“Let us always work to make our democratic ethos stronger. Writing, debating, deliberating, questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of. No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution. We must remain aever vigilant’ in coming times,” he urged.

The Emergency lasted till March 21, 1977. The Congress led by Indira Gandhi then was voted out of power in the elections that were held soon after.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai Congress President Ashish Shelar also addressed the gathering ‘1975 – Apaatkaal Loktantra par Aaghat’ where state BJP President Raosaheb Patil-Danve was also present.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing a report which said that India is the most dangerous country for a woman because of risks of rape and violence.

Gandhi said that while Modi frequently posts yoga videos, such reports were a shame for the country.

“While our PM tiptoes around his garden making yoga videos, India leads Afghanistan, Syria and Saudi Arabia in rape and violence against women. What a shame for our country!” Gandhi tweeted, tagging a report based on a survey by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The report, citing the survey of 550 experts on women’s issues, said India was the most dangerous country in the world for women because of the high risk of sexual violence and human trafficking for domestic work, forced labour, forced marriage and sexual slavery.

The report further said India was also the most dangerous country in the world for cultural traditions that impact women for which the survey cited acid attacks, female genital mutilation, child marriage and physical abuse.

The cold war between the former chief minister and chairman of Congress-JD(S) coordination committee, Siddaramaiah, and current chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy appears to be reaching a flash point, with both leaders not inclined to climb down from their respective stands.

In an apparent retort to Siddaramaiah, the chief minister said that he is not aware whether he would present the budget or not. “I do not speak with the harsh voice and arrogance like others. I am not indebted to anyone in reaching this position. I am not concerned about the length of a term I will be in power, but about the commitment with which I work,” he stated. He said he does not get any commission out of waiver of farm loans, but added that he is aware who will collect commission out of this measure.

He was speaking at a meeting of cooperative bank presidents, managing directors and directors of cooperative banks over waiver of farmers loans organized on Monday at Vidhana Soudha here.

Kumaraswamy feels that it is a custom for any new government to come out with new budget highlighting implementation of the party manifesto. It provides an opportunity to tell the people about priorities and commitments of the government. The supplementary budget might not provide for major steps like waiver of farm loans. If a budget is not presented now, the government may be forced to implement the programmes of the previous government, he feels.

On the other hand, Siddaramaiah is of the opinion that Congress being a partner in the current government, there is no need for a new budget. He feels that new budget is needed only if a new government is formed by a new party. He is apprehensive that popular schemes announced by him in his budget may be neglected when preparing the new budget.

Another fear is that JD(S) might give undue importance to its own manifesto in the new budget. He also is apprehensive of the chance of sacrificing credit which otherwise would have been earned by his party. Another fear is that the new chief minister, in an enthusiasm to get popularity, may lose control over financial discipline in which case Congress might face flak. He also feels that it would serve interests of his party if the current budget is continued till Lok Sabha election, as otherwise, JD(S) might snatch the initiative.