“Politics of one family undermined the Constitution…”: PM Modi Slams Congress, Calls Emergency a “Permanent Stain” on Its Legacy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress during his speech commemorating 75 years of the adoption of India's Constitution, accusing the grand old party of undermining the spirit of unity in diversity, a core principle championed by the Constitution's framers, including BR Ambedkar. In a veiled swipe at the Congress, Modi stated that it is the politics of "one family" that has consistently undermined the Constitution's principles and sought to sow division.

"The makers of the foundation, who were from various spheres, knew the importance of unity in India's diversity. It is with pain that I am saying this... while the makers of the Constitution had unity in their hearts and minds, some people attacked it," Modi said.

The Prime Minister in his speech also revisited the Emergency period, describing it as a permanent stain on the Congress. "When India was celebrating 25 years of its Constitution, our country's Constitution was torn apart... Emergency was imposed, constitutional provisions were suspended... The Congress can't wipe off this sin,” asserted the Prime Minister, adding that the citizens' rights were curtailed, and press freedom suppressed during the Emergency.

“From 1947 to 1952, there was no elected government in India. In 1951, when there was no elected govt, they came with an ordinance that attacked the fundamental rights of people and amended the Constitution," said Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister further criticized the party for amending the Constitution over 75 times in six decades, calling it an assault on the Constitution’s original intent.

Narendra Modi stated that the attacks on the ethos of the Constitiution were far worse during Indira Gandhi's tenure, as he claimed that the Constitution was misused to consolidate power. “Indira Gandhi misused the Constitution to save her chair and imposed the Emergency in a rage," Modi remarked. The Prime Minister also took a jab at the current political alignment, noting that some leaders who had been imprisoned during the Emergency are now allies of the Congress.

Modi also criticized Rajiv Gandhi for overturning the Supreme Court's Shah Bano verdict, which had granted Muslim women the right to maintenance after divorce. "It was started by Nehru, Indira Gandhi took it forward, and so did Rajiv Gandhi. The next generation is doing the same thing," Modi said, referring to the alleged continued legacy of undermining the Constitution.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also targeted Sonia Gandhi for allegedly placing an unelected person above then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the National Advisory Council. Lastly, he took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of disrespecting the Constitution by publicly tearing up an ordinance passed by Singh's cabinet.