Cong 'tore apart' Constitution and democracy by imposing Emergency: MP minister

Bhopal, Jun 25 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang on Wednesday alleged that Congress leaders "tore apart" democracy and the Constitution by imposing Emergency in the country 50 years ago.

The Nehru family should apologise for their "sins", the BJP leader told reporters on the 50th anniversary of Emergency imposed by the then Indira Gandhi government.

The ruling BJP is observing the day as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'.

The 21-month period from June 25, 1975 saw the suspension of civil liberties, arrest of opposition leaders and suppression of press freedom.

"Be it Indira Gandhi or any member of the Nehru family, they always attacked the country's democracy and abandoned the Constitution," Sarang alleged.

Describing Emergency as the "darkest chapter in the history of India", Sarang said, "Indira Gandhi had worked to tear apart democracy and the Constitution due to her lust for power, she imposed it (Emergency) and sent her opponents to jail." "Our leaders had worked hard to make this country the largest democracy in the world, but Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency and foiled their plans," he claimed.

Former prime minister late Jawaharlal Nehru insulted Dr BR Ambedkar, and history is witness to the fact that he (Nehru) did not let the Constitution's chief architect reach the Lok Sabha by conspiring against him, the BJP leader charged.

"Today, the Nehru family should apologise publicly for its sins," Sarang demanded.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government always expressed gratitude towards Ambedkar.

"Modi worked to convert Ambedkar Saheb's birthplace and workplace into a pilgrimage," the BJP leader said.

Today, the Congress, especially the Nehru family, should publicly apologise to the country for the imposition of Emergency, he added. PTI MAS GK