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Indian Express

Constitution was murdered during Emergency, is protected by PM Modi: Gujarat CM

Drawing a comparison between the Emergency era and the present times, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said while the Constitution, a symbol of people's hopes and aspirations, was murdered during Emergency, current Prime Minister Narendra Modi is bowing down before the Constitution and fulfilling the people's aspirations. CM Patel was addressing a public event — Samvidhan Hatya Diwas — in Gandhinagar to mark the 50th anniversary of imposition of Emergency in India in 1975. Patel said, 'The India of Emergency was such where (a) family was supreme and where people's rights were snatched away. And today, PM Narendra Modi is continuously trying to advance people's life as a Pradhan Sevak. In the India of Emergency, murder of the Constitution was committed. And in today's India, the PM is bowing down to the Constitution and fulfilling people's aspirations. Modi Saheb has displayed the feeling in which there is respect for the Constitution and the country's interest is supreme.' The event was organised by the Department of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs of Gujarat government. Those present on the occasion included Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rushikesh Patel, former judge of Gujarat High Court Justice (retired) R R Tripathi, and Gandhinagar Mayor Miraben Patel among others. Without naming anyone, the CM said, 'The people of the country have seen such a PM in the past who murdered the Constitution for self-interest. Today, people have got PM Narendrabhai Modi who has protected the Constitution in the interest of the country. When the Constitution completed 25 years, the then PM murdered it and imposed Emergency in the country. When the Constitution completed 60 years, Narendrabhai (as Gujarat CM) carried out a Gaurav Yatra of the Constitution on a caparisoned elephant…This is the difference between their values and those of Narendrabhai. For them, the Constitution was not a holy book, but a weapon to do politics whereas Narendrabhai has always believed the Constitution as supreme.' CM Patel said that the changes brought about in the country by Modi were done while following the Constitution. 'In Modi's leadership, the dignity of the Constitution has become stronger and the autonomy of constitutional institutions has increased,' he said. He also said that the 11 years of India under PM Modi's leadership have become 'a golden period for democracy and the Indian Constitution'. Since last year, the Centre has been observing June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day)' to commemorate the Emergency.