The BJP on Tuesday described the Emergency as an attack on all platforms of democracy and accused the Congress of imposing it on the country to save only one leader -- Indira Gandhi.
The country had witnessed a phase of cruelty at the time of the Emergency in 1975, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference.
Claiming that preparations were on for six months before imposing the Emergency, he said normally such a step is taken only after getting the Cabinet approval. But the order of the Emergency was signed by the then President on June 25, while the Cabinet meeting was held on June 26. Without the Cabinet recommendation, the President imposed Emergency, he claimed.
He also said that it was so painful that worshipping a family was on such a high in Congress at that time as leaders like Jagjivan Ram, and several others remained silent when Emergency was imposed.
The BJP leader said we fought for three fundamental freedoms, for the freedom of the individuals, for the freedom of press and for the freedom of judiciary.
-IANS
vsc/bg