From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 19: Even as the ruling BJP and the Narendra Modi regime at the Centre felt embarrassed at veteran BJP leader L K Advani’s remark that a situation like clamping 1975 emergency over the country could not be ruled out even now, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought rub salt into BJP wounds by pointing out that the veteran leader may have "experienced Emergency-like situation in the present Narendra Modi Government".
Advani had made his remark that a repeat of Emergency could not be ruled out in the future in an interview to The Indian Express on the forthcoming anniversary of Emergency on June 26.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that BJP veteran L K Advani might have experienced Siddaramaiah, who was part of the Janata Party that was formed after the revocation of the Emergency and continued to oppose the Congress party till he joined it during the S M Krishna-led Congress rule in the State, said "Advani is one of the country’s tallest leaders and he might have experienced Emergency like situation under the Modi government."
Unlike other former prime ministers, Modi has centralised all decision-making process and all the party veterans in BJP had been completely sidelined, Siddaramaiah said.
The Chief Minister said Advani may have voiced his feelings based on his experience during the one year rule of the Modi government.
Senior BJP leaders like Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others have been dumped in the largely ornamental Margadarshak Mandal, which is yet to meet even once during the last one year, and all decisions and powers are concentrated in the hands of Modi and his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah, who has been appointed the BJP national president, Siddaramaiah said.