The BJP on Monday posted an old video of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi questioning judicial overreach to take potshots at the Congress amid controversy over party MP Nishikant Dubey’s remarks against the Supreme Court.
Posting a part of the former PM’s interview, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said, “Indira Gandhi – the Congress must know its own past”.
In the video, Gandhi is seen questioning the setting up of the Justice Shah Commission to probe the excesses and malpractices during the Emergency period.
“How does Mr. Shah know what is happening in the political world? What are the forces at work which want to destroy a developing economy? Is a judge competent to decide that? Then why have democracy? Why have elections? Why have political people in power?” Gandhi says.
The “Mr Shah” referred to by Gandhi in her statement is former Chief Justice of India Jayantilal Chotilal Shah.
The commission was set up by the Janata Party government to look into the allegations of abuse of power and subversion of the law during the Emergency imposed by Gandhi.
The Shah Commission report revealed how political and civil liberties were allegedly quashed by Gandhi during the 21 months of the Emergency.
The video was posted by the BJP to hit out at the Congress’s criticism of party MP Nishikant Dubey over his remarks on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India.
Dubey’s tirade against the Supreme Court came against the backdrop of the top court setting a timeline for the President to take decisions on bills sent by governors and putting a stay on certain provisions of the Waqf law.
Targeting Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, the Jharkhand MP called him responsible for “all civil wars in the country”. In a cryptic message on X, Dubey also said if the Supreme Court was to make the laws, Parliament should be shut down.
