Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday justified the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a derogatory social media post targeting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, saying the action was taken based on complaints lodged by members of the public.
The FIR was registered after a post made by the BJP on the platform X was seen to discredit the legacy of Indira Gandhi, triggering protests and objections from Congress supporters.
Addressing the media, Parameshwara said, “FIRs are lodged based on certain complaints or suo motu, particularly when something provokes enmity among people. In this case, if someone tries to defame a leader who served the nation for decades and contributed to its development, naturally, people will object.”
The controversy erupted after the BJP, while observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared on 25 June 1975, posted a comparison between Adolf Hitler and Indira Gandhi, implying that democracy was dismantled to secure her political dominance.
Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra defended the post, calling it a fact-based account, and criticised the Congress for objecting.
"Yesterday marked 50 years since Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in India. This issue has been debated nationwide. What is wrong with the BJP comparing Indira Gandhi to Hitler? The world knows how democracy collapsed to safeguard its position. Senior leaders, Sangh Parivar members — all were imprisoned, and the media was silenced,” Vijayendra said.
He further targeted Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, saying, “Perhaps D. K. Shivakumar needs to revisit history to understand what transpired during the Emergency and how democracy was suppressed.”
In response, Congress reacted strongly. Party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of subjecting the country to what he termed an “Undeclared Emergency” over the past eleven years.
His remarks came as the BJP marked the Emergency anniversary by observing ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Killing Day).
“For the past 11 years and 30 days, Indian democracy has faced a systematic and dangerous five-pronged assault, best described as ‘Undeclared Emergency@11’,” Ramesh said.
He accused the BJP of attacking the Constitution, weakening Parliament, eroding the autonomy of constitutional institutions, undermining the judiciary, infringing civil liberties, intimidating the media, and misusing central investigative agencies.
Ramesh further alleged that the BJP has been manipulating media organisations by using government advertisements and permits to influence editorial content. He claimed media owners were pressured to employ government-friendly journalists and that journalists faced raids and arrests.
On the question of federalism, he accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise Opposition-ruled state governments and of engaging in the political defection of elected legislators.
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