Debating Democracy: Congress Hits Back at BJP's 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday strongly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of leveraging the 50th anniversary of the Emergency as a distraction from ongoing socioeconomic issues such as unemployment and inflation.

Kharge, during a press conference, accused the BJP of using 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to cover up administrative failures, stating, "We are facing an undeclared emergency today." Kharge also criticized the Prime Minister's directive for states to observe the anniversary, questioning the BJP's commitment to constitutional values.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah labeled the Emergency as a period of 'injustice' initiated by Congress's 'hunger for power', with significant negative impacts on democratic freedoms. He emphasized the importance of ensuring awareness of such authoritarian tendencies among future generations.

(With inputs from agencies.)