The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought to embarrass the
Congress on the question of the 1975 internal emergency by
accusing it of justifying an "anti-democratic step." In a
statement, party vice-president K L Sharma joined the issue
with Congress spokesman Mani Shankar Aiyer, who had only
remarked a day before that imposition of emergency was well
within the constitution.
In short, the Congress has "justified the dynasty's
onslaught" on the judiciary, subversion of Parliament,
freedom of expression, censorship of media, and suppression
of civil liberties. That the Congress is not ashamed of
emergency is a matter of grave concern for the entire
nation and all those who cherish democracy, Mr Sharma
observed.
"Since the Congress is proud of the emergency, it can be
expected to resort to the same black means to restore power
to the `dynasty,' he added, cautioning everyone that the
Congress must be taught a lesson.
Mr Sharma asserted that democracy has survived in India
"not because of the Nehru-Indira-Sonia family, but despite
their best attempts to destroy it.''
Mr Sharma also accused the Congress of having struck a
dubious deal with the CPI (M). "We demand that the Congress
and the CPI (M) make their stand public on issues like the
Emergency, the singing of Swaraswati Vandana and patriotic
song Vande Mataram," Mr Sharma said.
"The BJP challenges the Congress and the Left to take a
public stand on this issue. The BJP challenges Sonia Gandhi
who led the attack on Saraswati Vandana to make her
position clear on this subject," he said.
He appealed to people to give a befitting reply to these
"anti-democratic and evil forces represented by the
Congress".
Asked about BJP's stand on reported statement by Muslim
leader Ali Miyan asking Muslims to withdraw children from
schools where Vande Mataram was recited, Mr Sharma said
that his party did not expect him to do such a thing.
On the opposition to `Saraswati vandana' by its allies like
the Trinamool Congress and the Akali Dal, Mr Sharma, said
"we are talking of the Congress and I am replying to their
stand."