As the Centre is marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas', BJP Tamil Nadu spokesperson ANS Prasad attacked Chief Minister MK Stalin for Congress' coalition with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. According to a statement issued by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prasad, the Congress party’s imposition of the Emergency in India was a brazen attack on democracy, constituting a dark chapter in the nation’s history. The authoritarian regime, led by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, brutally suppressed dissent, imprisoned national and state leaders, and committed gross constitutional violations.
Coming down heavily on the DMK and Congress alliance, the statement averred that DMK Chief Minister Stalin's coalition with the Congress party was a glaring exhibition of political opportunism. With the Congress party having a dismal record of human rights violations and loss of life during the Emergency, the DMK's move to work with them is a serious question on their democratic credentials.
The politics of DMK is tainted with nepotism and authoritarianism, with top posts being occupied by relatives of former CM Karunanidhi. Udhayanidhi Stalin as Deputy CM and Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi as MPs are classic examples of dynastic rule by the party. This open exhibition of family politics has been a hallmark of DMK rule, according to Prasad.
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Reminding that DMK leader C Chittibabu's death in jail during the Emergency, Prasad described the DMK-Congress alliance as ironic. It is ironic that the DMK, which endured hardships during the Emergency, has decided to go in alliance with the Congress party, which brought about its hardships. Prasad had said in his statement that the DMK's history, including Mayor Chittibabu's death in jail, appears to have been forgotten in its pursuit for power.
The Tamil Nadu people should question how the DMK can possibly defend such a coalition and its complicity on the Emergency-era atrocities. The Congress party's actions in the Emergency era were guided by a hunger for power and a desire to remain in power. And yet, even despite such a black history, the Congress party has been giving lectures to everyone else on the democracy, the statement said.
The DMK's readiness to join hands with the Congress party, even though the latter removed the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and treated its leaders brutally, is appalling. With its joining of hands with the Congress party, the DMK's integrity to talk of democracy and state's rights remains doubtful.
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Prasad praised the Narendra Modi government's move to mark the 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas' and termed it as an appropriate tribute.
The BJP government's move to mark the Emergency as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas' (Constitution Murder Day) is a befitting tribute to the victims of this black chapter in the annals of Indian history. The day reminds us of the need to guard our democracy and Constitution.
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