Badal rules out re-imposition of emergency

Terming the Emergency imposed by the then Congress government in 1975 as "darkest hours," Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today ruled out any possibility of its re-imposition in the country.
It were darkest the hours for democracy as both the political class from opposition and press were crushed by those in power, he said, recalling the Emergency, on the sidelines of inauguration of Markfed cannery at Chuharwali village near here.
However, Badal said that currently there was no such threat to Indian democracy at this juncture as the routing of Indira government in post emergency era had given a befitting lesson to anti-democratic forces.

The CM, who was also imprisoned during the Emergency, said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had opposed this dictatorial move of Indira government despite of the feelers sent by the union government to support the move.
However, he said that the SAD followed the footsteps of great Sikh gurus who had always taught them to oppose injustice, tyranny and oppression.
Badal said that it was a matter of conscience and moral values for them due to which the entire Akali leadership fought the battle against emergency from the front and courted arrest against the draconian policies of Indira government.
Refuting the allegations that yoga was being imposed on people as Hindutva agenda, he said that yoga was completely concerned with the physical fitness.

Yoga was very essential for a fit body and sound mind and it must not be viewed through political angle, Badal said, adding, "I myself practice yoga daily to remain fit and fine," .