Tharoor Responds to BJPs Power Shift Claims, Citing Emergency Example

New Delhi, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor addressed the BJP’s allegations on Friday that the protests against the SIR (State Intervention Regulation) are aimed at a “power shift.” He reminded attendees of the NDTV World Summit that during former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure, the opposition united and defeated the government that had imposed the Emergency.

Tharoor stated, “Prime Minister Modi often talks about the Emergency and its end. How did that end? Through the opposition, which included the RSS and BJP joining forces with socialists and leftists. They all came together to defeat the government that declared the Emergency. This is a recent chapter in Indian political history, just fifty years ago.”

He referenced the defeat of Indira Gandhi’s Congress government by the Janata Party. Tharoor also dismissed comparisons between the violent protests in France and potential unrest in India. He emphasized, “Our Constitution clearly states that peaceful protests are a democratic right of every Indian citizen; violence is not.”

Tharoor insisted that the political climate in India would not tolerate the kind of chaos seen in France. “I do not condone it, and I don’t believe my party would welcome any form of violence,” he stated. He reiterated Congress’s commitment to peaceful protests and expressed hope that if the government and the Election Commission are willing to be accountable for alleged irregularities in the voter registration process, the system could be “cleansed.”

He remarked, “We (Congress) believe in organized and disciplined protests. We hope that if the government and the Election Commission are ready to address the serious irregularities in the SIR process over the past few years, we are confident that the system can be restored.”

Tharoor asserted that electoral rules would be reinstated, ensuring that no Indian citizen would be deprived of their constitutional right to vote and choose their political options. He stated that any change in power would come through free and fair elections, emphasizing that the public has witnessed the current government’s shortcomings.

Earlier, Neha Bora, national president of AISA, praised Bangladesh’s Gen-Z movement, calling it an inspiration for Indian youth. Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan remarked that protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have transformed into a “battle for power change.”

When asked about the alliance with warring left factions in his home state of Kerala, Tharoor mentioned Neha Bora, stating, “These parties have their importance, but Neha Bora was not campaigning against us. I appreciate her; she has brought energy, color, and enthusiasm to protests and movements. This reflects Congress’s identity as a liberal party and its acceptability. It’s about opposition unity.”