'Only for Selling Books': BJP Slams Sonia Gandhi's 'Mistake' Remark on Emergency
Assam BJP leader Kishore Upadhyay hits back at Sonia Gandhi, claiming calling the 1975 Emergency a mistake is just a tactic to sell books.
The political battle over India's democratic history has reignited as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The controversy erupted after Sonia Gandhi referred to the imposition of the 1975 Emergency as a "mistake," a comment that has been dismissed by BJP leaders as an insufficient apology for the damage dealt to the nation.
'Irreparable Loss' to Democracy
Assam BJP Chief Spokesperson Kishore Upadhyay did not mince words while criticizing the Congress leader. Speaking to ANI, Upadhyay asserted that simply acknowledging the Emergency as an error does not erase the scars left on Indian democracy and its constitutional values.
Upadhyay specifically pointed toward the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, arguing that the structural changes made during that era had a profound and lasting impact on the country's democratic institutions. He questioned how such significant alterations to the legal framework could be brushed aside as a mere mistake.
"Saying that was a mistake cannot undo what has already been done, and the irreparable loss to Indian democracy and constitutional values," Upadhyay stated.
The 'Selling Books' Allegation
In a sharp jab at the Gandhi family, the Assam BJP leader suggested that these admissions of error are not genuine reflections of remorse but are instead strategic moves. Upadhyay claimed that for Sonia Gandhi, these references to the past are "only for selling books," implying that the narrative is being shaped for commercial or image-building purposes rather than true accountability.
He further alleged that the Congress party and the Gandhi family have caused serious and enduring damage to the Constitution and the very fabric of Indian democracy.
Sonia Gandhi's Critique of the Current Government
The BJP's reaction follows a series of comments made by Sonia Gandhi in an interview with The Hindu. In the interview, the Congress leader turned the mirror on the ruling BJP, accusing them of inflicting severe damage on India's democratic institutions over the last twelve years.
Sonia Gandhi expressed her concern over the current state of the nation, stating that the fabric of the country and its institutions have suffered greatly. However, she maintained a sense of optimism regarding the Indian electorate.
Confidence in the Electorate
According to Sonia Gandhi, the citizens of India are beginning to recognize the damage being done and are becoming restless for a change. She expressed confidence that the people would eventually restore "proper governance" and democratic health to the country.
She cautioned, however, that the healing process would not be instant. Gandhi noted that even after a change in government, it would require significant time and concerted effort from various political parties to restore the country's systems to full health.