L.K.Advani fears another emergency, says forces that can crush democracy are stronger"

[Hindustani78]

RSS did not support Emergency: Indira Gandhi aide | Zee News

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's close aide R K Dhawan Wednesday dismissed claims by former Intelligence Bureau chief T V Rajeswar that the RSS had supported Emergency.

"How could RSS say that they could support Indira Gandhi for the Emergency or support her during the post-Emergency elections leaving behind the Jan Sangh party. There was no such mention of RSS supporting Gandhi," Dhawan said.

He stated this in an interview in India Today when asked about Rajeswar's claim in his newly-released book 'The Crucial Years', dismissing it as a mere "self-glorification" and for creating sensation.

In the book Rajeswar claimed that the RSS had supported several measures taken during the Emergency and the then chief of the organisation Balasaheb Deoras had tried to contact then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

To a pointed question on whether Deoras wanted to meet Gandhi, Dhawan wondered why Rajeswar was making such claims "which did not happen at all".

"He (Deoras) did make a direct contact with Mrs Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi or the PM's house," Dhawan said.

He also dismissed several other charges made in the book against Indira Gandhi, including allegations that she had told IB to snoop on Congressmen or that she was aware of the excesses committed during Emergency.

Dhawan also maintained that Gandhi was visibly relieved on losing the 1977 General Elections so that she could spend time with her family.

In an interview with Karan Thapar for programme 'To the Point', Rajewar had said, "Not only they (RSS) were supportive of this, they wanted to establish contact apart from Mrs Gandhi, with Sanjay Gandhi also."

Rajeswar, who served as Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim after his retirement from service, was responding when asked about certain passages in his book which talk about RSS supporting the Emergency, a statement issued by the interviewer had said.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Anti-Emergency movement strengthened Indian democracy: PM Modi | Zee News

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that anti-Emergency movement had strengthened Indian democracy.

Speaking on the occasion of Jayaprakash Narayan's 113th birth anniversary in the national capital the PM said, “We need not cry while remembering Emergency. Lets talk about how the anti-Emergency movement strengthened democracy.”

“JP Movement, Navnirman Movement, Emergency, they gave birth to a new kind of politics in the nation,” PM Modi pointed out, adding, “JP was a person with an open mind. He was not restricted to one thought or ideology. He lived for the truth and what he felt was right.”

“In 1977 polls top leadership was in jail. No one knew what was happening but see the strength of people and their respect for democracy. Leadership born during Emergency was not one for TV screens. It was a leadership to live and die for the Nation,” PM further said.

“The political generation born during the Emergency was fully dedicated to democratic values, inspired by JP. JP was a person with an open mind. He was not restricted to one thought or ideology. He lived for the truth and what he felt was right,” he observed.

To the fourth estate, the PM said, “India's media might have its preferences but it should never let people of this country forget the days of emergency period,” as per ANI, adding, “We don't want to remember emergency to criticize someone, but to constantly be reminded of commitment towards democracy and freedom of press.”

 

[Hindustani78]

Emergency history should be part of school, college curricula: Advani

BJP veteran L K Advani today suggested inclusion of history of the Emergency in school and college curricula and establishment of a memorial to those who fought against it.

"The history of the Emergency should be included in the curricula of schools and colleges... There should be a proper Loktantra Prahari Memorial in New Delhi," he suggested to the Prime Minister, adding that it would enable the new generation of Indians to know the country's history better.

Advani lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for organising the "Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan" function on the 113th birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan and highlighting the contribution made by the Socialist leader in saving and strengthening democracy.

"You have made a good beginning. But, obviously, more need to be done," he said at the function where the Prime Minister felicitated many such people for their contribution and struggle during the Emergency days.

"In two years from now, we will come to a landmark year – the 40th year of the end of the Emergency and victory of democracy. I suggest to the Prime Minister that the government commemorate this year in a befitting way -- beginning from June 25, 2016 and ending on June 25, 2017," he said.

Advani said, "It is rightly said that a people or a nation that forget their history, and their true heroes, do so at their own peril."

It is unfortunate that in the decades after Independence, especially during Congress rule, heroes like Jayaprakash Narayan were not given their due, the BJP veteran said.

"Only members of one family were projected as the heroes of independent India," he said, adding that he did believe that Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also were patriots and they too served the nation with dedication.

"However, the deliberate attempt to ignore or de-emphasise the contribution of other leaders was reprehensible," he said.

He alleged successive Congress governments "deliberately tried to marginalise" the memory of JP and other 'Loktantra Praharis' and attempted to erase the Emergency from the collective memory of Indians.

Remembering all those heroes who fought against Emergency, he said, "All of them were soldiers in the Army of Democracy that won the battle against it" and the present and future generations should know them and their contribution to the defence of democracy.
Lauding JP's contribution, he recalled the non-doctrinaire and non-dogmatic approach in the battle he fought against authoritarianism.

 

[Mr. Khan]

Advani trying to stay relevant