Congress Lacks Moral Authority To Speak On Constitution |
Patna: I am always surprised and shocked whenever I see how Congress's Yuvraj and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, frequently holds up a pocket-sized, red-covered copy of the Indian Constitution during political rallies, parliamentary sessions, and official events as if he is the only saviour of the Constitution and the values enshrined within it.
It also surprises me how Rahul Gandhi so conveniently forgets that his grandmother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the national Emergency on June 25, 1975, and excesses or systemic human rights violations were committed in utter violation of constitutional provisions.
The Internal Emergency was proclaimed on 25th June 1975 under Article 352 of the Constitution on the grounds of "internal disturbance" and remained in force until 21st March 1977, lasting 21 months. It remains the longest period during which democratic freedoms and civil liberties were suspended across independent India.
More than 1.1 lakh political opponents, activists, journalists, trade union leaders and student leaders were arrested during the Emergency. Nearly 35,000 individuals........