Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole has criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly inciting the youth of the country in the name of Emergency. He stated that the BJP had no right to speak on the issue and should first study the circumstances under which Emergency was imposed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Patole alleged that some people were conspiring to end democracy in the country at that time, and if Indira Gandhi had not imposed Emergency, there would have been no democracy in the country. He further stated that the situation was dire in the country now, and both democracy and the Constitution were being set aside. The MPCC chief also asked the BJP to first talk about the undeclared emergency in the country for the past nine years, stating that action was being taken against those who speak out against the Modi government at the Centre. The central government was misusing its agencies to suppress the opposition, and those who spoke against it were being harassed, he added. With the undeclared emergency, Patole suggested that there was no freedom of expression or freedom of the press in the country, and therefore the BJP should not talk about the Emergency that was imposed decades ago. During the Emergency, only a few people faced the brunt but, under the undeclared emergency, the entire country is suffering, Patole said. He also pointed out that Congress had apologized for the Emergency, but the BJP has never apologized for anything.
In conclusion, Patole criticized the BJP, alleging that the party was misusing its powers and suppressing those opposed to its government. He further suggested that it was wrong for the BJP to bring up the issue of Emergency, which was imposed decades ago, when the country is going through an undeclared emergency, with no freedom of expression or press. He asked the BJP to stop inciting the youth while maintaining democracy and the Constitution, and allow for freedom of expression and press in the country.
