Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jagdish Vishwakarma, speaking at an event in Vadodara, criticized the Emergency imposed in 1975, calling it a severe blow to democracy and constitutional governance in India. He highlighted the curtailment of civil liberties during that period, with over one lakh people detained without warrants under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and restrictions on legal remedies for detainees. Vishwakarma also pointed out the restrictions on press freedom and suppression of dissenting voices during the Emergency.
Vishwakarma accused the Congress government of altering the Constitution for political gains, emphasizing the violation of constitutional principles by previous leaders. He mentioned coercive population control programs, restrictions on media freedom, and detentions of political workers and activists during the Emergency. The BJP President also discussed the amendments made to the Constitution at that time, including changes to the Preamble and challenges to judicial independence.
Referring to historical events, Vishwakarma highlighted the addition of Article 35A during Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure, which he claimed created disparities in constitutional rights between Jammu and Kashmir and other regions. He praised the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as a step towards strengthening national unity. Vishwakarma also mentioned the role of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India, emphasizing the importance of protecting democratic institutions.
