Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address in the Rajya Sabha, launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of stifling freedom of speech during the Emergency period.
Speaking on the Motion of Thanks in response to the President's address, he highlighted the contrast between the BJP's development model, which focuses on "nation first," and the Congress’s "family first" approach, a clear reference to the Gandhi family.
In a pointed reference to the Emergency era, PM Modi brought up the instances of poet Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni, both of whom were imprisoned for opposing the government, and actor Dev Anand, whose films were banned on Doordarshan after he refused to publicly support the Emergency.
The Prime Minister remarked that such acts of silencing opposition were characteristic of the Congress's authoritarian mindset. He noted that the word "Constitution" was ill-suited for the Congress, which, during the Emergency, had "handcuffed and chained" leaders like George Fernandes.
PM Modi recalled how Dev Anand had shown great courage by rejecting a request to publicly back the Emergency. As a result, the government banned all his films from being shown on Doordarshan.
In his memoir, Romancing with Life, Dev Anand detailed the hardships faced by many artistes who opposed the government's stance during the Emergency.
Further condemning the Congress, PM Modi pointed out how the then Congress government, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, sacked Hridaynath Mangeshkar, brother of the iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar, from All India Radio for reciting a poem on Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar.
Similarly, poet Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni were jailed for their active participation in protests against the government.
The Prime Minister's attack on Congress did not stop there. He accused the Congress of perpetuating the "licence/permit raj" during its rule, a system that stifled India's growth and technological advancement.
He criticised the Congress for making it nearly impossible for citizens to access essential permits and new technologies, even causing delays in the importation of computers. He pointed out that, under the BJP's leadership, the country had been freed from these restrictive practices, and was now making progress.
Turning the tables on Congress's allegations of the BJP "destroying" the Constitution, PM Modi argued that it was, in fact, the Congress that had "hated" Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
He recalled how Congress had opposed Dr Ambedkar's contributions and even attempted to defeat him in elections.
Modi’s comments highlighted the Congress's failure to honour Ambedkar properly, as the party never conferred the Bharat Ratna on him, despite his significant contributions to India's democratic framework.
This was in stark contrast to the BJP’s emphasis on respecting Ambedkar's legacy and his vision for India.
PM Modi also mentioned that, for the BJP, the model of governance was centred around the nation's welfare, whereas the Congress remained entrenched in the interest of one family.
He remarked that expecting the Congress to uphold the ideals of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" (Inclusive Development for All) was futile, as the Congress's focus was limited to the interests of the Gandhi family.
The Prime Minister also addressed the ongoing debate over the caste census, criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's push for it. Modi warned that such efforts were aimed at sowing discord and division within society by using caste as a political tool.
He highlighted that for years, MPs from the OBC (Other Backward Classes) had been demanding constitutional status for the OBC panel, a demand that Congress had consistently ignored.
In contrast, under the BJP government, the OBC panel had been granted constitutional status, a step that Modi claimed would empower and uplift the OBC community in India.
In his speech, PM Modi sought to emphasise the contrast between the Congress's historical record of suppressing dissent and the BJP’s model of empowering citizens through democratic governance.
His address not only aimed at discrediting the Congress's claims but also reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to a development-oriented, inclusive governance model, with the welfare of the nation at its core.
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