NEW DELHI: In a sharp critique of the Modi government, the Congress party on Wednesday accused the administration of orchestrating a sustained and dangerous assault on Indian democracy over the last eleven years—an era it termed as "Undeclared Emergency@11."
The opposition party alleged that civil liberties have been curtailed and hate speech has run rampant under the current regime.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, issued a statement claiming that government critics are routinely demonized, hate and bigotry are being actively propagated by those in power, and peaceful protests have been met with vilification. He noted that protesting farmers were branded as “Khalistanis” and supporters of a caste census were dismissed as “urban Naxals.”
“The very individuals who glorify the killers of Mahatma Gandhi are being celebrated. Minority communities live in fear for their safety and property. Marginalized groups, especially Dalits, are being disproportionately targeted. Shockingly, ministers who make hate-filled remarks are being rewarded with promotions,” Ramesh asserted.
His remarks came on a day when the government is marking 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' on the anniversary of imposition of Emergency by the then Indira Gandhi government in 1975.
It is the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency.
In a statement, Ramesh said, "Over the past eleven years and thirty days, Indian democracy has been under a systematic and dangerous five-fold assault that can be best described as Undeclared Emergency@11."
He also cited alleged "attacks on the Constitution, tax terrorism and Intimidation of Businesses and institutions, control Over the Media and misuse of investigative agencies" to claim that an "undeclared emergency" was in place.
Ramesh also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a “400 Paar” mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to change the Constitution and undermine B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy — a mandate the people of India decisively rejected.
“They voted to protect and strengthen the existing Constitution and the values of economic, social, and political justice,” Ramesh said.
He accused the Modi government of weakening Parliament by suspending MPs for raising public issues, bypassing parliamentary committees, and pushing through key laws without debate.
Ramesh further charged that constitutional bodies were being eroded: “The CAG is irrelevant, the Election Commission’s integrity is compromised, and poll schedules are tailored to benefit the ruling party.”
He alleged the Centre had damaged federalism, using money power to topple opposition-led state governments and misusing Governors to block state bills and interfere in universities. Cesses were overused to deny states their fair revenue share, he said.
Media outlets have come under “unprecedented pressure,” he said, with critical journalists facing arrests and raids. State broadcasters, he alleged, have been reduced to propaganda tools.
The Right to Information Act has been hollowed out, and agencies like the ED, CBI, and IT Department are being misused to target the Opposition, Ramesh claimed. He also alleged the BJP collected ₹8,000 crore through electoral bonds using these agencies as leverage.
“Those who join the BJP become ED-mukt and CBI-mukt,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
