Delhi is BJP’s first experiment: CM Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: BJP leader L.K. Advani’s remarks that Emergency was possible triggered speculation whether it was directed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the years since the Emergency in 1975-77, Mr Advani said, “I don’t think anything has been done that gives the assurance that civil liberties will not be suspended or destroyed again. Not at all.” “Of course, no one can do it easily... But that it cannot happen again — I will not say that. It could be that fundamental liberties are curtailed again,” the former deputy PM, who was incarcerated during the Emergency said.

Mr Advani also said that he did not see any sign in the polity that assures him any outstanding aspect of leadership with a commitment to democracy and to all other aspects related to democracy is lacking. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal agreed with Mr Advani that imposition of Emergency cannot be ruled in the country and wondered whether Delhi will be the “first experiment” towards it. “Advaniji is correct in saying that Emergency can’t be ruled out. Is Delhi their first experiment?,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Commenting on Mr Advani’s remarks, RSS ideologue M.G. Vaidya said Mr Advani is a member of the BJP’s Magadarshak Mandal and he did not think he was sending a message to Mr Modi. “I don’t feel anything like that. He (Advani) is quite senior in age and experience. So he can talk to Modi. He is in the Margdarshak Mandal of the BJP. I don’t think he has an intention of sending a message to Modi through this interview.”

However, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan latched on to Mr Advani’s remarks saying the “jury is out” from the ruling party itself and he was indeed hinting at “emergency-like” situation under Mr Modi’s rule. “It is obvious whom he is talking about, whose government is there, who is the Prime Minister. He knows it. But he is a statesman-like leader of the BJP. He did not want to name the Prime Minister. But whoever reads the interview, he/she would understand he is talking about Modi,” he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar supported the concern of Mr Advani and said that Bihar was “facing it on a daily basis”. “Mr Advani is among the senior-most leaders of BJP and his concerns should be considered seriously. As far as Emergency-like situation is concerned, we are facing it here on a daily basis,” Mr Kumar said. JD (U) leader K.C. Tyagi, said “I agree with Adavani Ji that circumstances like emergency and context are still alive and the reasons lead to emergency are not finished yet.”