Jitendra Awhad ticks off Cong over his Emergency remark, retracts later as BJP is all smiles

Mumbai: It is quite often that our politicians, leaders and ministers have this uncanny habit of courting controversy when none was required, a sort of foot in the mouth kind of situation. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Minister for Housing, Jitendra Awhad sounding all fire and brimstone at an anti-CAA, anti-NRC rally in Beed last night dug up the ghost of the 1975 Emergency much to the anger of his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally the Congress.

Building up the tempo of his speech, the NCP Minister hit the raw nerve of the Congress when he remarked “Indira Gandhi also strangulated democracy and nobody was ready to speak against her. Then students from Ahmedabad and Patna, protested and the JP (Jayprakash Narayan) movement started leading to her defeat. This history will be repeated in Maharashtra and the country”.

Although, since the Congress frowned upon him, Awhad has since then retracted on his statement, even lauding the contributions of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in nation building, preserving its unity and integrity. But by the time the stable doors were bolted, the horses had already galloped away. Needless to say the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership was smiling ear to ear.

Congress Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Ashok Chavan was the first one to tick Awhad off, warning him that “if you show any disrespect towards our leaders you will get a befitting reply”. He then went on to add that it was good that Awhad had clarified in the nick of the time. Chavan added that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi paid it with her life for upholding the unity and integrity of the country.

State BJP vice president Dr Kirit Somaiya sarcastically remarked “I agree with NCP Minister Awhad. I hope the other partners of Thackeray Sarkar, Shiv Sena and Congress agree with Awhad”. A rankled Awhad then tweeted “the Iron Lady Indira Gandhi had the guts to apologise for wrong doings #kiritsomaiya will ur leaders even think in their dreams”.

The infamous 1975 Emergency has always been a punching bag for the BJP. It may be recalled that the previous BJP government led by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had started a pension scheme for all those who were put behind bars during the Emergency days. The MVA government has promptly put a stop to the pension scheme. With some MVA leader or the other almost the daily flying off the handle, it does appear that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray must be literally having his heart in his mouth.