Nitin Gadkari Calls For BJP’s Commitment To Democracy Amid Critique Of Emergency Era

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari urged BJP workers to educate the public about who was responsible for damaging the Constitution by imposing the Emergency in 1975. Speaking at the BJP’s executive committee meeting in Bengaluru, he emphasized the importance of informing the new generation about the “murderer of democracy” in the country.

Gadkari highlighted the BJP’s role in protecting the Constitution and democracy, affirming their unwavering commitment to safeguarding these principles. He emphasized the need for this message to resonate with the people, highlighting that during the Emergency, authorities suppressed democracy, curtailed freedom of speech, and controlled the media. He recounted how numerous BJP workers, including prominent leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, and George Fernandes, were imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) for opposing the Emergency.

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Gadkari underscored India’s reputation today as a beacon of democracy, despite its vast population, and criticized the constitutional amendments made during the Emergency that undermined democracy. He pointed out that the Janata Party repealed these amendments when they came to power.

Furthermore, Gadkari criticized the Congress for spreading misinformation that the BJP aims to amend the Constitution to end reservation, clarifying that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Kesavananda Bharati case prevents such amendments to the Constitution’s core features even with a parliamentary majority. He emphasized that the BJP has never sought to damage or amend the Constitution.