NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Thursday led NDA’s attack on Congress on the Emergency’s 51st anniversary, slamming the measure as an assault on the Constitution and emphasising his govt’s commitment to constitutional values.Several other members of the BJP-led governing alliance contrasted the irony of Congress championing the cause of Constitution while accusing govt of undermining its principles, with its trampling of civil rights and evisceration of democratic institutions during the 21-month Emergency imposed by then PM Indira Gandhi.Home minister Amit Shah said govt’s decision to commemorate June 25 as “samvidhan hatya diwas” is aimed at keeping the memory of this black chapter alive in the nation’s memory so that Congress never dares to repeat the similar attack on democracy and Constitution.Modi said, “Today, we pay homage to all those who steadfastly defended democratic values during one of the darkest chapters in India’s history… The Emergency was a direct assault on our Constitution. It witnessed the suspension of civil liberties, curbs on freedom of expression, arrests of political leaders, journalists, social workers and an assault on institutions that are the bedrock of our democracy.” BJP president Nitin Nabin said Congress invokes Constitution today but has never tendered an unconditional apology for Emergency.Culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat recalled how the numerous leaders who showed courage to protest were put in jails and “right to dissent” was declared to be a crime.
