Indira Gandhi misused Article 356 fifty times to topple govts: PM Modi in RS
New Delhi, February 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress on Thursday, saying its leader Indira Gandhi had scored a "half-century" in dismissing elected governments, in response to the opposition's allegations that the Centre was harassing non-BJP governments in states.
In response to the Rajya Sabha debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, the Prime Minister stated that the BJP-led government at the Centre has emphasised "cooperative, competitive federalism" while also framing policies with national progress and regional aspirations in mind.
"We are accused of troubling the states. I have been the chief minister for a long time. I understand the meaning of federalism. We have stressed on cooperative, competitive federalism. We have kept in mind national progress in our policies and also regional aspirations. Those who are sitting in Opposition today, they had tampered with the rights of states," PM Modi stated in Parliament.
During PM Modi's speech, opposition members continued to raise slogans in support of their demands regarding the Hindenburg-Adani controversy.
PM Modi claimed that Congress had repeatedly abused Article 356.
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"Look at the history, which party and people in power misused Article 356 the most? Elected governments were toppled 90 times, who were those who did that? A Prime minister used Article 356 fifty times and scored a half-century and that name is Indira Gandhi. In Kerala Communist government was elected which wasn't liked by Pandit Nehru and was toppled," he added.
"In Tamil Nadu too, governments of veterans like MGR and Karunanidhi were dismissed by Congress people. Sharad Pawar's government was toppled too. We have seen what happened with NTR when he was in the US for treatment and attempts were made to topple his government. This was the level of Congress' politics. They troubled every regional leader."
PM Modi also took a swipe at the Nehru-Gandhi family over several schemes and places named after their members and inquired "why people from their generation don't keep Nehru as their surname".
"Some had problems with the names of schemes of govt and Sanskrit words in the names. I read in a report that 600 government schemes were in the Gandhi-Nehru family's name... I don't understand why people from their generation don't keep Nehru as their surname, what's the fear & shame?" he stated.
The Prime Minister, who was repeatedly cheered by BJP members, went on to add that the country is made from the common man's sweat and courage and is not "any family's property".
"Some people will have to understand that this centuries-old country is a country made from the common man's sweat and courage. This country is not any family's property. We named the Khel Ratna award after Major Dhyan Chand. We named the islands in Andaman after Netaji. We are proud. There are some who do not leave an opportunity to demean the Army, we named islands after the recipients of Param Vir Chakra. This is our dedication. You have problems with it which are visible," he stated.
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- ANI
