Terming Emergency imposed by Indira Government in 1975 as a black spot on Indian Polity, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today completely ruled out any possibility of its re-imposition in the country. Interacting with the media persons on the sidelines of inauguration of Markfed cannery here today, the Chief Minister said that the punishment given to the perpetrators of this heinous crime against democracy, by the people, would ever act as a deterrent for anybody to repeat this mistake again. Recalling the black days of emergency, he said that it was a darkest hour for democracy as both the political class from opposition and press were crushed by those in power. However, Mr. Badal said that currently there was no such threat to Indian democracy at this juncture as the routing of Indira government in post emergency era had given a befitting lesson to anti-democratic forces.
The Chief Minister, who was imprisoned during the emergency, said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had opposed this dictatorial move of Indira government despite of the feelers sent by the union government to support the move. However, he said that the SAD followed the footsteps of great Sikh gurus who had always taught them to oppose injustice, tyranny and oppression.
Badal said that it was a matter of conscience and moral values for them due to which the entire Akali leadership fought the battle against emergency from the front and courted arrest against the draconian policies of Indira government. Refuting the allegations that yoga was being imposed on people as Hindutva agenda, the Chief Minister said that yoga was completely concerned with the physical fitness. He said that yoga was very essential for a fit body and sound mind and it must not be viewed through political angle. “I myself practice yoga daily to remain fit and fine”, he added. Replying to another query pertaining to letter written by BJP Vice President Mr. Avinash Rai Khanna for regularisation of hours of liquor vends, the Chief Minister said that he would look into the matter. He said that the action in this case would be taken as per the law of land. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr. Pawan Teenu and Mr. KD Bhandari, Chairman Marked Jarnail Singh Wahid, Chairman District Planning Committee Tarn Taran Mr. Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, MD Markfed Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. Kunwar vijay Partap and Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav.