Emergency's 50th anniversary sparks political face-off in Raj
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Jaipur/Jhunjhunu/Jodhpur: The 50th anniversary of the Emergency sparked intense political debates across Rajasthan, with ruling BJP and opposition Congress trading sharp accusations over the historical event and ongoing development projects Wednesday.
Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, addressing the Democracy Fighter Honour Ceremony at Maheshwari Public School in Jaipur, termed the Emergency a "dark stain on our democratic history." Sharma accused the Congress of harming national interests through "appeasement, nepotism and corrupt politics in its lust for power."
Deputy chief minister Diya Kumari, speaking at BJP's 'Sacrifice Day' event in Sikar, shared a personal connection to the period, revealing that her father, late Brig Bhawani Singh, a Mahavir Chakra awardee, was imprisoned during the Emergency.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot, however, defended the Emergency, stating it "was the need of the time." Speaking in Jodhpur, Gehlot reminded that Congress had faced consequences of imposing Emergency but subsequently won the general elections with a significant majority under Indira Gandhi's leadership. Gehlot dismissed BJP's attempts to leverage the Emergency issue for political gain.
PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra added another dimension to the debate, claiming that RSS man Balasaheb had actually supported the Emergency, and pointed out that Kumari's father had contested Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket.
The political discourse extended beyond the Emergency, with Dotasra alleging an "undeclared emergency" under the current Modi govt. He also questioned the BJP govt's progress on various infrastructure projects, including the Fatehpur Road bypass and Nawalgarh Road railway bridge.
On the other hand, Deputy CM Kumari highlighted developments in Jhunjhunu, including the Shekhawati Havelis, Khatu Shyamji Corridor and Jhunjhunu War Museum projects, with the central govt allocating Rs 87 crore for the Khatu Shyamji project. Congress, however, accused the BJP of taking credit for initiatives started during their previous tenure at the govt.
The day saw multiple events across the state, including a seminar titled "The Dark Chapter of Indian Democracy - Constitution Murder Day - 2025" at the Constitution Club, marking five decades since the Emergency's imposition.
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