NEW DELHI, June 26:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attacked the Congress over clamping of Emergency on its 41st anniversary today, calling it a “dark night” for the country and a “blot” on the party.
Recalling the Emergency period when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, Jaitley asserted its impact was to “inflict a dictatorship” on the country while Modi said the “shining example” of “democratic” powers of a common citizen” seen during that period should keep reminding the nation again and again.
Modi spoke about the Emergency when he addressed the nation on his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
“Sometimes some people mock at my ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme and even criticise it. This is possible because we are committed to democracy,” he said.
“.. Today when I am talking to you on June 26, we should not forget that our strength is democracy, our strength is people’s strength and our strength is every citizen. We have to take this commitment further and strengthen it,” he added.
He said that the democracy, which empowers every citizen, had been suppressed on this day in 1975.
“The morning of June 26, 1975, was such a black night when Emergency was imposed on the country. All rights of the citizens were taken away. The country was turned into a prison. Along with Jayaprakash Narayan, lakhs of people and thousands of politicians were sent to jails,” he recalled.
The Prime Minister said it is the strength of the countrymen that they have lived this democracy.
“When the newspaper offices are sealed and radio speaks only voice, people on the other hand make you realise the power of democratic forces. This is a big strength for any nation,” he said in apparent reference to the Emergency days.
He said there should be an attitude that people continue to realise their strengths.
Jaitley targeted the Congress over Emergency and operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple among other issues and threw a challenge at the present Congress leadership, asking if it had any views and internal debate on them.
“If one looks back at the history of the Congress Party after independence, the blots on it are economic reforms being delayed by over two decades, transformation of India in to a dynastic democracy, the imposition of Emergency in 1975, Operation Blue Star and corruption,” the Minister said in his Facebook post – ‘Constitutional dictatorship imposed by Mrs Indira Gandhi forty-one years ago’.
“The impact of the Emergency was to inflict a dictatorship on the country,” said Jaitley, who was imprisoned during the Emergency period.
On June 26, 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed an internal emergency in the country, he said, adding “the phoney reason she gave was that there was a breakdown of public order in as much as Jayprakash Narayan had asked the police and the Army not to follow illegal orders.”
The actual reason, however, was that her continuation as the Prime Minister was threatened since the Allahabad High Court had unseated her as Member of Parliament for adopting corrupt practices during her election, he said.
Modi asked people to declare their undisclosed income by September 30, making it clear that this is the last chance to avoid problems that will follow after the window of opportunity closes.
He said no questions would be asked about the source of the undisclosed income or assets if the declaration is made voluntarily by September 30.
“For those having undisclosed income, the government has provided a special chance to declare it by September 30,” Modi said in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
He said by paying a penalty, those having undisclosed money can free themselves from various kinds of burden.
“I have promised that there will be no inquiry into the source of the undisclosed income and assets if the declaration is made voluntarily. That is why I am saying it is a good chance for becoming a part of transparent system,” he said.
“Let me tell the countrymen that this chance is till September 30. Consider this as the last chance,” the Prime Minister asserted during the programme.
He said he has told BJP MPs that if anybody faces any problem after September 30 for not abiding by the rules, no help should be provided to them.
“It will be better that you take advantage of the window provided and save yourself from the difficulties that you can face after September 30,” he said.
Modi said there was a time when taxation rules were such that people would tend to avoiding paying taxes.
“But gradually, times changed. Now, for a taxpayer, it is not much difficult to abide by the government rules. Still, old habits die hard,” he said, adding there are still people who feel that it is better to avoid paying taxes.
“My plea is that by running away from rules, we lose our peace. Any small person can harass us. Why should we let it happen? Why not ourselves give correct information to the Government about our income, about our wealth? For once, dispose off the baggage of the past. I appeal to my countrymen to get free from this,” he said.
Referring to his recent interaction with officials of Income Tax, Customs and Excise here, the Prime Minister said he had told them that they should not consider the countrymen thieves but should repose faith in them and “hand-hold” them to encourage them to become law-abiding citizens.
He said he told them to change their approach as it was important to create an atmosphere of trust.
However, at the meeting, he said, he was told that out of 1.25 crore citizens of the country, only 1.5 lakh people have taxable income of over Rs 50 lakh. “This cannot be digested by anybody. One can see lakhs of people with taxable income of over Rs 50 lakh in big cities.
“Before taking any tough step, the Government wants to give the people a chance. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, there is a golden chance to declare your undisclosed income. In other words, it is a way out of difficulties that will come after September 30….I don’t want that you should feel any difficulty after September 30,” Modi emphasised.
“It is the gulf between the people and the Governments which is the cause of our ailments. It has been my endeavour always to take the country forward through people’s participation,” he said.
Noting that his Government recently completed two years, Modi said some “modern-thinking youth” had given him a “kind of challenge” to get his government’s performance assessed by the people.
He said when he mentioned this to his senior colleagues, they said it should not be done as in this age technology can be misused and the survey can be taken anywhere.
“They expressed concern. But I thought the risk should be taken. A try should be given. Let us see what happens,” Modi said, adding the survey was subsequently carried out on ‘Rate my Government-MyGov.In’ in different languages.
Three lakh people gave answers to all the questions, he said, contending that the sample size is bigger than the ones in surveys carried out after elections.
He said he will not go into the result of the survey as he left it to the media to do so.
“So, did you see? There was a day some years ago when the voice of the countrymen was muzzled on June 26 and there is a time when the people themselves decide whether the Government is performing well or badly. This is the strength of democracy.”
The Prime Minister also referred to the International Yoga Day celebrated on June 21 and said a momentum of yoga should be maintained for at least a year as it may help cure diabetes.
Modi also mentioned the recent induction of three women as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force. While naming the three, he hailed them as an example of empowerment of women, particularly since they come from small cities and towns.
He welcomed the prediction of good rains in the country during Monsoon, saying it will give relief to the countrymen, particularly farmers, who had been facing drought and water- scarcity.
In this context, he again laid thrust on water conservation, saying “jal hai toh kal hai (water is essential for a better tomorrow)”.
Referring to the feat achieved by the ISRO in launching 22 satellites in one go a few days back, Modi had words of praise for students of Pune and Tamil Nadu who had prepared two of these satellites.
He said more and more children should be encouraged to become scientists so that the country can have innovations, especially in the area of space. (PTI)
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