Emergency imposed to save unity, integrity: AICC spokesperson

As the BJP continues to criticise the Congress over the Emergency, AICC spokesperson Kuldeep Rathore on Friday claimed that it was imposed to save the unity and integrity of the country during a time of widespread unrest.

“In the name of total revolution, students were being instigated to boycott classrooms and hit the streets. Workers were being asked to quit factories, and even attempts were made to instigate paramilitary forces,” he said.

“Under such circumstances, the Emergency was necessary to keep the country united,” added Rathore.

He further said, “As soon as the situation normalised, elections were announced and held in a democratic manner. If the Congress or then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not believe in democracy, elections would not have been restored.”

Rathore also challenged the perception that a lot of atrocities were committed on the public during the Emergency.

“The Janta Party government fell in just two and half years, and the Congress returned to power. Why would people bring back the Congress if atrocities had truly occurred?” asked Rathore.

He further slammed the BJP for trying to portray that all good things have occurred after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014.

“In doing so, the BJP undermine the contributions of their own leader and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as well,” Rathore said.