‘India voted to prevent another Emergency’: P Chidambaram takes a jibe at PM Modi over ’protect Constitution’ remark

Senior Congress P Chidambaram, on Tuesday, June 25, charged at the BJP-led NDA government and said India voted to prevent another Emergency. In a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his recent remark about the ‘Emergency’ in India, he reiterated, "India will remain a liberal, democratic and secular Union of States."

In a social media post on X, the senior Congress leader wrote, “Hon'ble Prime Minister said that 'Emergency reminds us to protect the Constitution'. Very true I may add, the Constitution reminded the people to prevent another Emergency, and they voted to curtail the ambitions of the BJP.”

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The post further said, “The people voted for the 18th Lok Sabha in such a manner that no human or divine ruler can change the basic structure of the Constitution. India will remain a liberal, democratic and secular Union of States.”

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Ahead of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24, Modi raked up the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi era Emergency and termed its imposition on June 25, 1975, as a “black spot” on democracy when the Constitution was “discarded”. 

In a barb clearly aimed at the Congress, Modi said on Monday, “Tomorrow is the 25th of June. For those dedicated to upholding the dignity of our Constitution and who believe in Bharat's democratic traditions, the 25th of June is an unforgettable day. Tomorrow marks 50 years since a dark chapter was written into India's democracy."

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and other opposition INDIA bloc leaders waved copies of the Indian Constitution in Parliament on Monday as Narendra Modi took oath as a member of the Lok Sabha.

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He added, “These 50 years since the Emergency remind us to protect our Constitution and democracy with pride.” He further called upon the countrymen to ensure that such a travesty will never be allowed to happen again.

The first woman Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, imposed an Emergency on June 25. Today, the country enters the 50th anniversary of the year of imposition of the Emergency by the then Indira Gandhi-led Congress government.