Kharge asserted that the biggest threat to the Constitution and democracy today comes from the current regime.
New Delhi: On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, the Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, alleging that the country has been under an “undeclared emergency” for the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At a press conference held at the AICC headquarters, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accompanied by party leaders KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera, accused the Modi government of misusing the Emergency anniversary to deflect attention from its governance failures.
“Modi is raking up the Emergency after 50 years just to hide his failures on employment, corruption, inflation, poverty, crony capitalism and other issues,” said Kharge.
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“Threat To Constitution Is From You,” Kharge Tells Modi
Kharge asserted that the biggest threat to the Constitution and democracy today comes not from history, but from the current regime. “If there is any crisis today, it is because of the BJP and the PM. Is there any freedom of expression left? Those who speak or write against the government are jailed,” he said.
He questioned the BJP’s claims of protecting democracy, noting that those making such claims had no role in India’s freedom struggle or in drafting the Constitution. “A government that does not practice tolerance, fraternity, or liberty should not lecture others about democratic values,” he added.
Kharge also pointed to institutional compromises, alleging political pressure on the judiciary, discrimination against opposition-ruled states, and the manipulation of the Election Commission. Citing Maharashtra, he said, “Seventy lakh voters were added in six months. Even the judiciary is being pressurised.”
He accused the BJP of using governors as political tools in opposition-ruled states, saying, “If any governor doesn’t toe their line, they are removed or transferred.”
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On Economy and Inequality
The Congress President criticised the government’s economic policies, saying wealth was being concentrated in the hands of a few industrialists while the poor were getting poorer. “The gap between rich and poor is widening rapidly, and this government is doing nothing to bridge it,” he said.
Taking a dig at Modi’s global image, Kharge questioned, “What kind of Vishwaguru (world leader) are you if you can’t even address the problems of your own country?” He also pointed out Modi’s silence when former US President Donald Trump claimed credit for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. “You even campaigned for Trump with ‘Ab ki Baar, Trump Sarkar’. How can you call yourself a global leader?”
‘Modi Only Wants to Win Elections’
Kharge also criticised Modi for avoiding media interactions. “All Prime Ministers before him have faced the press, but Modi only speaks to select people with scripted questions. This is their idea of transparency,” he said.
He further slammed the PM for skipping an all-party meeting following the Pahalgam terror attack while continuing to campaign in Bihar. “The opposition stood by the government during a national crisis, but Modi is trying to exploit it for electoral gain,” he said.
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Congress Intensifies ‘Save Constitution’ Campaign
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said the BJP’s renewed focus on the Emergency was a sign of its “guilty conscience.” He said the party’s nationwide ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign had already reached 628 districts and would now expand to over 10,000 assembly segments.
“The BJP is unnerved. Their fake campaign on Emergency is a reaction to the growing public support for the Congress’s message,” he said.
Venugopal concluded that it was the people of India who had ultimately protected democracy in 2024. “They stopped the BJP from reaching 400-plus seats and forced Modi to bow to the very Constitution his party wanted to rewrite.”
