Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor Challenges Government’s Focus on Emergency
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has criticized the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for using the Emergency as a distraction from current issues such as NEET paper leaks, the situation in Manipur, and unemployment. Tharoor, a veteran Congress Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, questioned the relevance of bringing up an event that occurred nearly five decades ago.
The former Union Minister acknowledged that the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi may have been undemocratic, but he emphasized that it was not unconstitutional. Tharoor explained that the provision for an internal emergency existed in the Constitution at that time, although it has since been removed.
In response to the recent resolution condemning the Emergency in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor expressed his disagreement with labeling the Emergency as unconstitutional. He argued that the actions taken in 1975 were legally permissible within the bounds of the Constitution, even if they were deemed undesirable.
Tharoor highlighted the importance of factual accuracy in legal terminology when discussing historical events like the Emergency. While he acknowledged the shortcomings of the Emergency period, he maintained that it did not constitute an attack on the Constitution as claimed by some critics.
As the debate surrounding the Emergency continues to stir controversy, Tharoor emphasized the need for a balanced and accurate assessment of historical events to avoid misinterpretations and misrepresentations.
