‘RJD Joined Hands with Those Who Crushed Democracy’: Samrat Choudhary Fires at Congress Alliance

Patna: Political temperatures soared as leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched scathing attacks on the Congress, reigniting debates over democracy, alliances, and historical accountability.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked the day with sharp criticism of the Congress party, calling it the “executioner of democracy.” Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Choudhary condemned Congress for imposing the Emergency and questioned the ideological loyalty of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), its current ally in Bihar.

“History is witness to who silenced democracy in 1975. The people rejected them then, and they will again,” Choudhary said. “Lalu Prasad Yadav, once a disciple of Jayaprakash Narayan, is now standing with the very forces he once opposed. The RJD must explain this betrayal.”

His remarks came as the BJP observed “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” (Constitution Murder Day) across various states, commemorating the day Emergency was declared by the then Congress government.

Echoing similar sentiments, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya accused Congress of distorting facts and misleading the public during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to media in Lucknow, Maurya said, “Congress used fear-mongering about the Constitution being under threat just to gain sympathy votes. But the public saw through the lie and gave the BJP a resounding mandate.”

Maurya also referred to Congress as a “dynastic party” that had historically undermined democratic institutions, adding, “This party doesn’t believe in democratic values — it only believes in family-first politics.”

The political crossfire wasn’t one-sided. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded sharply, accusing the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the Emergency anniversary to distract from governance failures. In a statement released Wednesday, Kharge said, “Instead of addressing unemployment, price rise, or the disaster of demonetisation, the BJP is trying to dig up history to shift focus from its broken promises.”

He accused the BJP of orchestrating a political smokescreen and questioned its commitment to constitutional principles, claiming, “While pretending to honour democracy, they are systematically weakening the very institutions that uphold it.”

The Emergency period, which lasted from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, was a 21-month phase during which civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was curtailed, and political opponents were jailed. It remains one of the most controversial chapters in India’s democratic history.