New Delhi: On the 41st anniversary of the Emergency, BJP leaders including several Union ministers, on Saturday attacked Congress, saying its design to bring "authoritarianism" was defeated by the then united opposition and asked it to "repent".
In a series of tweets, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said Sangh (RSS), the erstwhile Jan Sangh and opposition parties fought the battle together and the people supported it.
Read: On 2nd anniversary, NDA to target Oppn, highlight Emergency
"41 years ago, Congress declared emergency and brought authoritarianism and tried to end democracy. Sangh, Jansangh and opposition parties together fought the battle and people supported it. That is why the danger to the democracy was finished and intentions of authoritarianism was destroyed," he tweeted.
Javadekar, who was among the imprisoned leaders during the Emergency, said that Yervada jail had then turned into a "political university".
The "Emergency" refers to a 21-month period in 1975-77 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had declared a state of emergency across the country.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh tweeted "On June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency. A day for Congress to repent and realise that the country belongs to common (man) not Congress."
BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said democracy was "throttled" on this day which can never be forgotten.
