In a dramatic session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, intense arguments erupted between the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP regarding the Emergency period and the protection of the Constitution. The session saw accusations and heated exchanges that led to the Chair adjourning the House temporarily.
The dispute ignited when Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar criticised Opposition Leader R Ashoka’s praise of Speaker UT Khader for installing a plaque of the Constitution’s preamble inside the House.
Shivakumar quipped, “We must commend Ashoka and his party for their newfound concern for the Constitution.” This comment triggered a rebuttal from Ashoka, who accused the Congress of attempting to “destroy” the Constitution by imposing the Emergency in 1975.
Shivakumar responded by highlighting the continued electoral success of Congress leaders post-Emergency, citing Indira Gandhi’s return to power and the subsequent terms of Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh as Prime Ministers.
Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar sarcastically described himself as a “guest” at a police station during the Emergency, criticising Congress for their historical actions and suggesting they should not defend the Emergency.
Congress members, including Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, countered the sarcasm by claiming that an undeclared emergency has persisted over the past decade, alleging misuse of State institutions by the BJP-led NDA Government.
They pointed to incidents like the Godhra riots and alleged misuse of the Enforcement Directorate as evidence of this ongoing crisis. This led to further verbal clashes, with BJP members accusing Congress of undermining Constitutional institutions and media freedom.
In an attempt to mediate, Speaker Khader referenced historical figures like Haji Mastan and Karim Lala, who were jailed during the Emergency, arguing that the period had both positive and negative aspects.
However, BJP legislators, including Araga Jnanendra, condemned this as a defence of the Emergency, asserting that it represented a fundamental abuse of the Constitution.
BJP MLA Harish Poonja questioned the necessity of the Emergency for such actions against criminals, further fuelling the debate. Amidst the turmoil, Congress MLA Rajegowda allegedly used derogatory language towards Poonja, prompting BJP MLAs to demand an apology.
The escalating chaos led the Speaker to adjourn the House, as attempts to restore order proved unsuccessful.
