Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in lust for power: Anurag Thakur

Hamirpur: BJP MP of Lok Sabha from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur, who was also a former Union minister, claimed that Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in lust for power. He verbally attacked Congress MPs or carried books on the Indian Constitution while taking oath in the Lok Sabha, PTI reported.

The Emergency imposed in 1975 is a black spot on the face of Indian democracy, he said.

"The repressive policies, lust for power and dictatorial mindset of Congress had put an indelible stain on Indian democracy by imposing emergency on 25 June 1975," Thakur said in a statement.

"According to the report of international human rights organization Amnesty International, during the emergency, 1,40,000 people were put in jails without trial under the Internal Security Act across the country," he said.

Referring to Indira Gandhi, who was the PM then, he said, "The ego of one family and one person was placed above the national interest. Indira Gandhi repeatedly obtained ordinances from the President to continue the Emergency through the Charter bypassing the Parliament."

The BJP leader hailed the RSS for its "struggle against the Emergency" and its demonstrations countrywide against the violation of citizens' freedom and fundamental rights.

"Indira Gandhi was trying to control the judicial system and power. Indira Gandhi did not resign even after the court's order," the former Information and Broadcasting minister said.

Earlier on Tuesday, PM Modi praised all the men and women who had resisted the Emergency. He attacked the Congress via a social media post, saying, "subverted basic freedoms and trampled over the Constitution of India which every Indian respects greatly."

Modi used the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency.