Tamil Nadu BJP Criticizes DMK-Congress Alliance Over 1975 Emergency

Chennai, Jun 25 (PTI) - Tamil Nadu BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday over its alliance with the Congress, which was responsible for the imposition of the Emergency, a period she described as "painful days" for the nation. Speaking to PTI Videos on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency's declaration, Soundararajan expressed disbelief at the DMK's political alliance with the Congress, especially when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin frequently mentions enduring the challenges of that era. In 1976, the DMK government led by M Karunanidhi was dismissed and a young Stalin was imprisoned during the Emergency's tenure. Soundararajan recounted the struggles faced by her family, noting that her father, Kumari Ananthan, was arrested and jailed in Andhra Pradesh at the time. "Those were terrible days," remarked the 64-year-old former governor of Telangana, emphasizing the importance of educating the younger generation about the hardships endured during the Emergency. The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, and lifted on March 21, 1977.