Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on Emergency, Congress today alleged that there is an "undeclared Emergency" in the country under his rule.
Party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan also attacked the Centre over its role in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand saying these were "examples of subjugation of democracy".
"We have this discussion initiated by the current government today on Emergency. Let me at the outset say that this country is going through an undeclared Emergency.
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"This is an undeclared Emergency. I am also reminding you when Advani ji had talked about the proviso of Emergency that exists, he was clearly hinting at the fact that this dispensation is capable of declaring Emergency," Vadakkan said.
He was referring to BJP veteran L K Advani's remarks made a year ago that "forces that can crush democracy are stronger" now and Emergency was possible.
Alleging that an "unwritten, undeclared Emergency" was prevailing, the Congress spokesperson said that there is "disrespect for Constitution, subjugation of democracy by bringing down elected governments, right of dissent being taken away" under the current regime.
Vadakkan said that subjugation of democracy can be highlighted by examining what happened in Congress-ruled states of Arunchal Pradesh and Uttarkhand.
"We have a government led by an autocratic Prime Minister. The ministers are in suspended animation. The Foreign Minister of this country has no role, the Finance Minister is called a waiter by the unofficial spokesperson of the BJP. Can you call him his master's voice. May be he is the unofficial spokesperson of the PM indeed," Vadakkan said referring to recent spat between Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.
Vadakkan also targeted the government over issues like the suicide of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University, JNU row, controversy in IIT Chennai over Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle and FTII agitation, saying these are "examples of undeclared Emergency".
Recalling the "black night" of Emergency imposed on this day 39 years back, Modi today asserted that democracy is the country's strength and said this commitment needs to be taken further.
Jaitley also took swipes at Congress and blamed it for delaying economic reforms by two decades, transforming India into a 'dynastic democracy' and bringing in corruption.
The minister targeted his guns on the Congress in his Facebook post - 'Constitutional dictatorship imposed by Mrs Indira Gandhi forty-one years ago'.
