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PM Modi Cites Dev Anand Film Ban to Criticize Congress Over Emergency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Congress in the Rajya Sabha, citing past censorship, economic policies, and alleged disregard for B.R. Ambedkar while accusing the party of prioritizing family over national interest 

06-02-2025
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, citing instances of censorship and suppression during the Emergency. Responding to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, he highlighted the arrests of poet Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni, along with the ban on Dev Anand’s films on Doordarshan, as examples of Congress' suppression of free speech.

Modi stated that Congress had no moral authority to speak on the Constitution, recalling how leaders like George Fernandes were handcuffed and jailed during the Emergency. He mentioned that Dev Anand refused to support the Emergency publicly, leading to an official ban on his films. The Prime Minister also accused the Nehru-led government of dismissing Hridaynath Mangeshkar from All India Radio for reciting a poem on Veer Savarkar.

Taking a swipe at Congress' economic policies, Modi condemned the "licence raj" system that stalled India's growth for decades. He claimed that under Congress rule, people had to bribe officials for permits, and technological advancements like computer imports were delayed for years.

On the issue of the Constitution, Modi alleged that Congress had a history of sidelining B.R. Ambedkar. He pointed out that the party tried to defeat Ambedkar in elections and never considered him for the Bharat Ratna during his lifetime. According to Modi, Congress' recent invocation of ‘Jai Bheem’ is driven by political compulsions rather than genuine respect for Ambedkar’s legacy.

Addressing Rahul Gandhi’s push for a caste census, Modi warned against attempts to divide society along caste lines. He highlighted how OBC MPs had long demanded constitutional status for the OBC panel, a request that Congress ignored, while the BJP fulfilled it.

Reiterating his party’s ideology, Modi asserted that while the BJP prioritizes "nation first," Congress remains focused on "family first," referring to the Gandhi family’s influence over the party. He concluded by saying that expecting Congress to work for the collective good would be a mistake, as their politics revolves around a single family’s interests.

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