Cong describes PM Modi as a dictator but they imposed Emergency: R Ashoka

Mysuru: Opposition Leader in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka demanded the Congress to clarify, whether it supports or opposes the Emergency, imposed by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.

Speaking at an event in Mysuru, marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency, he said: “If the Congress leaders have any respect for the Constitution, they should apologise to the people.

"During the Emergency, lakhs of people were jailed, and many freedom fighters died there. The Congress leaders should at least clarify if they support Emergency. In the past 50 years, no Congress leader has confessed that the Emergency was wrong."

“When a court ruled that Indira Gandhi had committed an electoral fraud, she imposed Emergency, to continue as Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi went to the extent of amending the Constitution without the consent of the Parliament, as the Parliament stood suspended then,” he added.

“During Emergency, leaders like the late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani were also imprisoned.

"I too was in Bengaluru jail for a month. Then, even saying ‘Indira’ would lead to arrest by the police. They arrested me, my brother and MLA Suresh Kumar and assaulted us. I was a college student then.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who claims to be a patriot, should speak on this issue. He should tell what were the so-called progressive persons doing back then,” Ashoka said.

“The Congress leaders describe Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a dictator. But, it was the Congress that imposed Emergency. They should tell us which newspaper has been shut down now. Is there pressure on the judiciary? Are elections cancelled?” he asked.

“Siddaramaiah claims that there is an ‘undeclared emergency’ in the country now. Nobody has stopped their children from contesting elections. Nobody has prevented them from going abroad and speaking ill about our country. During the Emergency, the police decided what newspapers could publish. No such situation exists now,” he said.

“They criticise that the BJP will change the Constitution. But, the Congress amended the Constitution even without the approval of the Parliament. Now, they treat Dr B R Ambedkar as their family asset. But, when Ambedkar died, they didn’t give space for his memorial in Delhi. When BJP came to power for the first time, Ambedkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna,” Ashoka recalled