Imposing emergency was unfortunate, but Indira Gandhi had apologised for it: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the Emergency imposed in the country 50 years ago was unfortunate, but former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had apologised for it. Speaking at an event organised by labour unions in Mumbai, Pawar emphasised that protecting the fundamental rights of citizens is a sacred task and people need to be vigilant about protecting them even today. Pawar reminded that after consultations with socialist stalwarts George Fernandes, Chandrashekhar and Madhu Dandavate, a change of government was made (led by the Congress) in Maharashtra in 1978 and he became the chief minister. Referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, Pawar said criticism of the current government is considered unacceptable. The former Union minister said, “Today we have to be careful. Even today criticism of the government is not considered good in the media. Journalists are threatened. There is a difference between declared and undeclared emergency. He called upon the common citizens to remain united to preserve and protect parliamentary democracy at any cost. Praising senior socialist leader late George Fernandes, Rajya Sabha member Pawar said he rose from a trade union leader to become a minister at the Centre. Pawar termed the Emergency an unfortunate event but also said the Indira Gandhi-led government had apologised for imposing measures like curbing fundamental rights, suppressing dissent, making mass arrests and press censorship.