BJP slams Congress over emergency mindset

New Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday accused the Congress of continuing to harbor an “Emergency-era mindset,” following remarks made by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest in Bihar. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress’s criticism of constitutional bodies, particularly the Election Commission (EC), reflects its belief that the legitimacy of such institutions depends on whether the party wins or loses elections.

Trivedi was referring to the Congress-led protest in Bihar against the special revision of the electoral roll, which the opposition claims is politically motivated. He alleged that the Congress has a long history of undermining democratic institutions, citing the imposition of Emergency in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

“The recent comments by Rahul Gandhi suggest that unless the Congress wins elections, the credibility of constitutional bodies will be questioned. This is a dangerous mindset reminiscent of the Emergency period,” Trivedi said. He added that similar sentiments were echoed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in a recent article, which has already stirred internal debates within the party, particularly in Kerala.

Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is reportedly exploring legal avenues to challenge the EC’s special voter list revision in Bihar. The BJP maintains that the process is part of routine electoral housekeeping and not politically driven. With the 50th anniversary of the Emergency approaching, the BJP is using the occasion to highlight what it sees as Congress’s continued disregard for democratic norms.