Headlines
Opposition picks up Advani remarks to attack Modi government
New Delhi, June 18
Opposition parties,
including the Congress and AAP, on Thursday attacked the Narendra Modi
government after veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani's remarks that forces
that can crush democracy were stronger at present and a repeat of an
Emergency-like situation cannot be ruled out.
Advani made the remarks in an interview to the Indian Express daily.
Congress
spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said it is not only his party which is
questioning the government "but even senior BJP leadership is raising
questions on the efficacy of the government".
Another Congress
spokesperson Sanjay Jha, tweeted: "A totalitarian system is gradually
overwhelming India; Advani Ji's warnings confirm our worst
apprehensions."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took a
dig at Prime Minister Modi and the central government in a reference to
the various standoffs between the Centre and his Aam Aadmi Party
government on issues including power to appoint and transfer officials.
"Advani ji is correct in saying that Emergency can't be ruled out. Is Delhi their first experiment," he tweeted.
AAP leader Ashutosh also tweeted that Advani's interview is first "indictment of Modi's politics".
"He is saying democracy is not safe, emergency is not far, under Modi's leadership."
"When
Modi was to be made PM candidate Advani discussed in his blog about
Mussolini and Hitler. He was hinting at the future then under Modi," he
said in a series of tweets.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, of
the Janata Dal-United, said Advani was a veteran leader and there is
need to give attention to his fear and worry.
"The BJP leader is
right to a large extent in his remarks that at the present point of
time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the
constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger," he told media
persons in Patna.
BJP spokesperson M.J. Akbar, however, said
Advani may have been referring to institutions rather than individuals,
and he does not think there is any chance of an emergency-like
situation.
In an interview to the Indian Express ahead of the
40th anniversary of the imposition of emergency in India, Advani said
"forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and
legal safeguards, are stronger".
Observing that he did not mean the political leadership was not mature, he said he did not have faith due to its weakness.
Advani
also said that he did not have confidence that Emergency cannot happen
again, noting "there aren't enough safeguards in India in 2015".
Internal emergency was imposed on the country by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25-26, 1975 and it lasted 19 months.