Delhi: In the last fifty years, democracy has become much stronger. It is ironic that Congress, which imposed the Emergency and distorted the Constitution to strangle democracy, is now protesting in Parliament holding a copy of the Constitution, said former Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai.

Speaking to the media in here today, he said that imposing the Emergency across the country fifty years ago was a dark day. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi acted very severely to retain her position. People were prevented from speaking against the government. Both human rights and political freedom were curtailed. Press freedom was completely abolished, with strict restrictions imposed on newspapers. Any news to be published required government approval.

He said Congress has no moral right to speak about the Constitution. It is ridiculous that the Congress, which distorted the entire Constitution and curtailed rights, is now speaking about its preservation in the Lok Sabha. They should remember that they distorted the Constitution and strangled democracy fifty years ago. It is foolish of Congress to forget that they took away all rights.

The Haveri MP said in the last fifty years, democracy has strengthened significantly. The Supreme Court’s rulings and subsequent amendments in Parliament have made it clear that no one can impose an Emergency again. Congress is trying to make a big issue out of this and create confusion among the people. ” We have an excellent Constitution that protects the rights of people, and Congress is trying to create an illusion that does not exist among the people. Hence, the people have once again elected Narendra Modi”, he said.

Bommai said it is very ironic that those who opposed the Constitution are now holding a copy of it in Parliament and protesting.

Asked about Congress’s allegations of an undeclared Emergency in the last ten years, he said , “Which rights have been taken away in the country? Has individual freedom been curtailed? Has press freedom been curtailed? If they are protesting, it means democracy exists. They are making baseless false accusations to create vote banks.