New Delhi:
Ahead of 40th anniversary of emergenc on June 25y, one of the founding fathers of BJP, LK Advani on Thursday hinted at another rift with BJP and struck a note of caution.
In an interview to a newspaper, Advani said that he fears that an emergency like situation could arise again in India. He was speaking in the backdrop of recent events where BJP’s credibility was questioned.
He also received support from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Nitish openly supported Advani and said that Bihar was “facing it on a daily basis”.
“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,” Kumar said.
Narendra Modi government is currently facing heat from the opposition over Lalit Modi visa controversy where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje have been hit badly.
The BJP patriarch said, “Forces that can crush democracy are stronger. A commitment to democracy is lacking in the country. I do not see any sign in our polity that assures me, any outstanding aspect of leadership. There are not enough safeguards in India in 2015 to prevent an emergency-like situation. I cannot assert confidently that an emergency could not happen again.”
He added, "Today, I do not say that the political leadership is not mature. I don't have faith because of its weaknesses. I don't have the confidence that it (Emergency) cannot happen again."
The statements made by the ‘Bhishma Pitamah of India's right wing movement’ can be seen embarrassing for the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
In wake of his earlier rifts with BJP top leadership, the issue can be contemplated as a move by Advani to take a potshot at PM Modi again.
