Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday attend a programme here to celebrate the 113th birth anniversary of social reformer Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP.
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The political generation born during the Emergency was fully dedicated to democratic values, inspired by JP, the Prime Minister said while speaking at Loktantra Prahari Abhinandan in Vigyan Bhavan here.
“The political generation born during the Emergency was absolutely dedicated to democratic values, impressed by Jayaprakash Narayan”, he added. He also lauded the media for staying resilient during the Emergency which he termed as an attack on the Indian democracy. He lived for the truth & what he felt was right. “It was a leadership to live and die for the Nation”, PM further said.
Noting that the struggle by Jayaprakash Narayan for democracy should be treated as a benchmark, he said his speeches reflected the “deep anguish” of the people who had suffered during Emergency.
“Emergency during which the constitutional rights of the people of the country were subverted, remains as an indelible blot in the post-Independence history of our country”.
“We decided people will go overseas and talk about the true picture of the Emergency”, Modi said, adding he had worked with Subramanian Swamy, who went abroad, in those days. “In 1977 polls top leadership was in jail. It should not be remembered for criticising however for our dedication to the democracy”, he added.
“The J.P. movement, the anti-corruption movement, the fight against Emergency after 25 years of Independence was an occasion…”
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Modi said “we do not want to remember Emergency to criticise someone, but to constantly be reminded of commitment towards democracy and freedom of press”.
