NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay today said his "blood boils" on hearing anti-India and pro-Afzal Guru slogans, while lamenting that Indians in general take pride in their country "only in times of crises".
Speaking at a CII event, Upadhyay said it was essential for citizens to know the "type of freedom" they seek and went on to delve into the meaning of freedom of speech.
The BJP Delhi unit chief said the quality of showing pride in their own country tends to be more among foreigners which "sets them apart from Indians".
Indians in general take pride in their country "only in times of crises like war", he claimed.
"Our Constitution extends to us fundamental rights and duties. Everyone wants rights, like right to freedom. But we need to see the type of freedom we want. What is the meaning of freedom of speech," he said.
As a citizen of this country "my blood boils" when someone chants anti-India slogans or pro-Afzal Guru slogans, he said.
At an event on February 9 on JNU campus, anti-India slogans were allegedly raised, following which sedition charges were slapped against some of the students. The controversial incident and its huge fallout has also triggered fresh debate on the idea of freedom of speech.
Criticising the AAP government with a hint of sarcasm, Upadhyay claimed that the city's infrastructure has crumbled under its "extraordinary government". He observed that micro-detailing was essential for the development of a city like Delhi.
He also pitched for "vertical" expansion of Delhi and credited the public for the "success" of the odd-even scheme.