Belagavi
BJP leaders and activists observed a black day to mark the anniversary of the imposition of the emergency by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Congress tenure in 1975. The protest march started from the government guest house and moved towards the Congress office, where some protesters were arrested by the police for attempting to paste posters condemning the Congress leadership.
The BJP leaders stated that accusations made by AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against the BJP for changing the Constitution overlook the Congress’s past actions. They demanded apologies from Kharge and Gandhi, highlighting that during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977, around 1.4 lakh people were jailed, which they condemned as a disservice to the country’s constitution.
Former MLA Anil Benake emphasized historical instances where the Constitution was allegedly insulted during Congress’s rule and reiterated the demand for apologies from Kharge and Gandhi. BJP functionaries and party workers, including MLA Abhay Patil, criticized the Emergency period as a dark chapter in history, emphasizing its condemnation.
The emergency declared on June 25, 1975, and its lasting impact were underscored by BJP representatives, who accused Congress of forgetting its own history of constitutional offenses while accusing the BJP. Several BJP leaders and corporators participated in the event, calling for accountability and recognition of historical wrongs.
