After Modi’s jibe on 1975 Emergency, Congress alleges ‘undeclared Emergency’ under BJP rule

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of placing democracy "under arrest" during the 1975 Emergency, the opposition party hit back, alleging that the country is currently witnessing an “undeclared Emergency” under the BJP-led government.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of carrying out a “systematic and dangerous five-fold assault” on Indian democracy over the last 11 years.

He said this includes the weakening of the Constitution, dismantling of parliamentary norms, misuse of central agencies, crackdown on media freedom, and the suppression of civil liberties.

The Congress described these actions as signs of an “Undeclared Emergency@11”, referring to the BJP’s time in power since 2014.

Ramesh also cited the 2024 general election campaign, in which the BJP sought a “400-paar” majority to rewrite the Constitution — a move he said voters rejected.

He further accused the government of suspending opposition MPs arbitrarily, pushing laws without proper debate, using tax and investigative agencies to target rivals, and enabling hate speech while discrediting activists and dissenters.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP president JP Nadda led the party's commemorations of June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day), to mark the 1975 Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Modi called it a "dark chapter" when the Constitution was subverted, and democracy crushed.

The BJP also organized mock parliamentary sessions and youth events to highlight the Congress's role during the Emergency, which lasted 21 months.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the BJP of using the anniversary to divert attention from its own failures.

Speaking at a press conference, Kharge said the BJP was "rattled" by the opposition’s “Samvidhan Bachao Yatra,” and claimed the ruling party marked “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” only to distract from pressing issues like unemployment, inflation, corruption, and demonetisation.

He further said the Prime Minister engages in “political theatre” to overshadow Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign to protect the Constitution.

He referred to PM Modi’s silence over a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam and the violence in Manipur as signs of misplaced priorities, and mocked his “Vishwaguru” ambitions in light of those failures.