New Delhi, June 25 (Agency) Former Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai criticized the Congress party today, highlighting the irony of their recent protests in Parliament holding copies of the Constitution. He sharply rebuked the party, pointing out that fifty years ago, the same Congress had imposed the Emergency and severely curtailed democratic freedoms. Speaking to the media, Bommai remarked that the imposition of Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was a dark chapter in Indian democracy. He emphasized how it stifled dissent, suppressed human rights, and imposed severe restrictions on political and press freedoms. He accused the Congress of distorting the Constitution to retain power, asserting that they have no moral authority to now advocate for its preservation.
“In the last fifty years, democracy has significantly strengthened, with safeguards like Supreme Court rulings and parliamentary amendments ensuring that such an Emergency cannot be imposed again,” Bommai stated. He criticized Congress’s attempts to politicize the issue and sow confusion among the public, suggesting it was a futile attempt to regain political ground. Bommai further highlighted the contradiction in Congress’s current stance, saying, “It is ironic that those who once opposed the Constitution are now holding it up in protest in Parliament.” Responding to allegations of an undeclared Emergency in recent years, he challenged Congress to substantiate their claims of curtailed freedoms, asserting that their protests themselves affirm the existence of democracy. The Haveri MP’s remarks come amidst heightened political tensions over democratic values and constitutional principles, as parties gear up for upcoming parliamentary sessions.