April 25: Apparently driven by his present political compulsions, Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was a product of Jaiprakash Narayan's movement against the Emergency imposed by Congress government, on Wednesday defended the action saying it was warranted by the prevailing situation.
The imposition of the Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975 was justified in view of the prevailing political situation in the country three decades ago, he said in reply to a question seeking his opinion on the issue.
Lalu was eulogising the contributions of the Nehru-Gandhi family when a reporter asked him whether the imposition of the Emergency was also a contribution of the family.
Lalu was eulogising the contributions of the Nehru-Gandhi family when a reporter asked him whether the imposition of the Emergency was also a contribution of the family.
Haan, Emergency bhi (yes, the Emergency too)", the RJD chief replied
Lalu, who was a spearhead of the nation-wide agitation against the Emergency and was imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), when asked whether he would support imposition of Emergency again, he said, "why not, if it is so required to enforce the rule of law".
"There was a provision in our Constitution for such a measure", the union minister said adding there should not be indiscipline and lawlessness.
He said even high constitutional authorities like the President of India were being "abused" by political persons and the constitutional offices "vilified" and cited the example of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackaray's recent jibe against A P J Abdul Kalam's hair.
Lalu, however, took credit for the agitation against the Emergency and said he as the students union leader of Patna University had done the groundwork for the success of the movement and strengthened the hands of Jaiprakash Narayan.
He said even high constitutional authorities like the President of India were being "abused" by political persons and the constitutional offices "vilified" and cited the example of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackaray's recent jibe against A P J Abdul Kalam's hair.
Lalu, however, took credit for the agitation against the Emergency and said he as the students union leader of Patna University had done the groundwork for the success of the movement and strengthened the hands of Jaiprakash Narayan.
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