Emergency gave rise to new political generation: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described emergency as a bloton the country but said the crisis in the political history of the country left democracystronger and gave birth to a new kind of politics inspired by Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayanand other great leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that a new political generation, which was fully dedicated to the democratic values, was born during the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan.

Singh said the campaign will also highlight how Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, one-time followers of the anti-emergency Jayaprakash Narayan movement, joined hands with Congress, the party which had imposed it. “But at times, goodness comes out of the bad”, Modi said. The government said, “They are being honoured for stoutly defending democracy and the rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution of India during the dark period of Emergency between 1975 and 1977”. “In 1977 polls top leadership was in jail”. It was an attack on India’s democratic tradition but we need not cry while remembering emergency.

“It was a leadership to live and die for the nation”, he added.

“Gandhi was more bothered about her image overseas than within the country, he said, adding that several opposition leaders were also in foreign countries to spread the word against repression”.

“The J.P. movement, the anti-corruption movement, the fight against Emergency after 25 years of Independence was an occasion… It should not be remembered for criticising however for our dedication to the democracy”, he added.

Modi said “we do not want to remember Emergency to criticise someone, but to constantly be reminded of commitment towards democracy and freedom of press”.