BJP Staging Drama On Emergency To Hide Its Governance Failures: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted on Wednesday that an undeclared emergency is currently prevailing in the country, while accusing the BJP of orchestrating a “drama” surrounding the Samvidhan (Constitution) Hatya Diwas to divert attention from its governance failures.

Kharge stated, “Those (BJP-RSS) people who are talking of Samvidhan bachao (save the Constitution) are now raking up the Emergency after 50 years. It was something people had forgotten, and they are now raking it up.” This remark was made during a press conference at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan, in Delhi, where he was accompanied by prominent Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, K.C. Venugopal, and Pawan Khera.

The Congress president condemned the BJP-RSS, emphasizing that those who “played no role in the independence of the country, in framing the Constitution, and burned Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution” are now the ones bringing up the Emergency, half a century after it was imposed. He added, “The same people are now talking of saving the Constitution.”

Kharge directed his criticism towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the Constitution is in danger today precisely because of the BJP and PM Modi. He remarked, “We have been taking out the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Yatra’ for one year, and the BJP is scared of that.” This statement underscores the Congress party’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness about what they perceive as threats to constitutional values under the current government.

In his address, Kharge also highlighted the Modi government’s failures in various areas, including governance, inflation, unemployment, corruption, demonetization, and the recovery of black money. He claimed that the Election Commission of India has become a “puppet” that ignores concerns raised by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding suspicious voter numbers in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for November 2024.

Further targeting PM Modi, Kharge referenced a statement made by former US President Donald Trump, suggesting that Modi, who has many flaws, now seeks to portray himself as a hero. “Trump repeatedly said he had separated India and Pakistan and stopped a war between the two countries,” Kharge noted, referring to the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, which India alleges was orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror outfits. He criticized Modi for remaining silent despite Trump mentioning this issue multiple times, stating, “Not a single word came out of Narendra Modi’s mouth.”

Kharge continued, “Narendra Modi is afraid of Trump, but wants to become a ‘Vishwaguru’. On the one hand, Trump scares Narendra Modi, and on the other, Modi goes to campaign for Trump and says ‘abki baar Trump sarkar’.”

In another critique, Kharge lamented the current state of press interactions, stating, “In the past, prime ministers would hold press conferences where they’d face questions from journalists. However, Narendra Modi only grants interviews to a select few, with pre-approved questions and answers.” This underscores the Congress party’s belief that Modi’s administration lacks transparency and accountability.

Kharge also expressed concern over the widening economic inequalities in the country, stating, “You have brought in an undeclared emergency.” This assertion aligns with the Congress party’s narrative that the current government is undermining democratic principles and exacerbating social disparities.

Earlier, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, alleging that over the past 11 years, Indian democracy has faced a “systematic and dangerous” five-fold assault, which they describe as ‘Undeclared Emergency@11’. This counter-offensive comes in response to the BJP’s aggressive stance on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975.

In a series of posts on X, Prime Minister Modi remarked that no Indian would forget how the spirit of the Constitution was violated during the Emergency, reaffirming his government’s commitment to strengthening constitutional principles. He characterized the Emergency as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, further intensifying the ongoing political discourse surrounding this pivotal moment in the nation’s past.