 Early Times Report
KATHUA, June 25: Kavinder Gupta, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, addressed an Intellectual Sammelan in Kathua, where he described the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as the darkest period in India's democratic history.
As the Chief Guest at the event, Kavinder Gupta condemned the oppressive measures taken by the ruling government during the Emergency to suppress dissenting voices, including the media. Recalling his own experience as a teenager associated with the RSS at the time, he expressed how he and others were treated like criminals and produced in court in handcuffs.
"The curtailment of media freedom and stifling of dissenting voices made the Emergency the darkest period in the history of J&K," he asserted, highlighting the abuse of state apparatus during that time.
The Emergency, imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, suspended civil rights and elections until March 21, 1977. Opposition leaders and even some within the Congress party who opposed Gandhi's style of governance were incarcerated.
Kavinder Gupta attributed the lifting of the Emergency and the restoration of democracy to the efforts of countless people. However, he criticized the Congress, stating that the party's interests and those of a single family often took precedence over national interests. He lamented that this state of affairs persists within the Congress even today.
During the Intellectual Sammelan, Kavinder Gupta underscored the BJP's commitment to the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. He discussed various initiatives undertaken by the BJP government to foster progress in the region, including infrastructure development, education, healthcare, employment generation, and the fight against corruption during the nine years of Modi's rule.
Highlighting the BJP's approach, Kavinder Gupta emphasized that the development of Jammu and Kashmir is based on the aspirations of its people rather than a specific ideology. He stressed the importance of creating economic opportunities for the residents, enabling them to lead better lives.
Encouraging party workers to engage with the public and address their concerns, Kavinder Gupta urged them to prioritize the welfare of citizens and connect with them at the grassroots level.
The event was presided over by Gopal Mahajan, District President of BJP Kathua, and attended by esteemed personalities such as SK Sharma, IRS Retd, Convener Professional Cell, BJP J&K UT, Mukherjee Sharma, IFS Retd, Convener Education and Employees Cell, BJP J&K UT, Shiv Dev Singh, District Vice President Kathua, Ragunandan Bablu, DDC member, Rekha Kumari, Prem Nath Dogra, and Ravinder Sharma.
Gopal Mahajan explained that the Intellectual Sammelan aimed to engage intellectuals and scholars, providing them with insights into the BJP's vision and thought process. The event was part of the Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan Program organized by the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, fostering communication and knowledge-sharing among party members. |
