Atrocities committed on the public to fulfill political motives; not once was the Constitution or democracy remembered during the Emergency, says Saini
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini while launching a scathing attack on the opposition, saying that Undermining the core values of the Constitution is in the DNA of the Congress, even though they pretend to be its protectors. Even today, they attempt to disrespect the Constitution by giving statements such as restoring Article 370 if they come to power, he said.
The Chief Minister said that unlike Congress, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country has been governed in accordance with the Constitution for the past 11 years since 2014, and people have witnessed a truly independent India. The Chief Minister was addressing the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, program held in Karnal on Wednesday, marking the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency– a dark chapter in Indian democracy.
The Chief Minister said that June 25 reminds us of how, at midnight, the government imposed Emergency, and innocent citizens were arrested and tortured. The brutality still sends chills down our spines. The decision was made purely to fulfill the political will of those in power, driven by arrogance, thinking "only I matter, no one else." It was a deliberate conspiracy where the sacred Constitution was crushed for personal gain. Not once during the Emergency was the Constitution or democracy remembered. Writers and leaders who dared to raise their voices were jailed to prevent dissent, said Saini.
He added that when India gained independence, there were 562 princely states, and the responsibility of unifying them was given to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who succeeded in doing so. However, only one princely state was entrusted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and the consequences are well known to all, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister said that Congress never respected the Constitution. Their "Yuvraj" (referring to Rahul Gandhi) once stood in Parliament, the temple of democracy and tore up a bill, insulting the Constitution. The generations of those who now talk of defending the Constitution never respected it. Due to Congress’s flawed policies, people suffered greatly, and today, the public has decisively rejected them, he said.
Saini said that back then, the government implemented a permit system to enter Jammu and Kashmir. Their intention was clearly to separate the region from the rest of the country. But Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee opposed this permit system, declaring that there would be no two heads of state, no two flags in India. He launched a movement and entered Jammu and Kashmir without a permit, for which he sacrificed his life. The Chief Minister further shared that only then was the permit system abolished. Still, for many years, two constitutions, two heads, and two flags continued. Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi abolished Article 370 and fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee’s dream of one Constitution, one head of state, and one national flag, he said.