Congress Questions Scindia's Omission of Father in Emergency Narrative

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) — The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia after he recalled his grandmother's struggle during the Emergency, questioning whether he will completely overlook his father Madhavrao Scindia to promote the BJP's narrative.

As the Modi government observed 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to mark the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Scindia highlighted his grandmother Vijaya Raje Scindia's choice of public service over royal privileges.

"Her dedication to democracy and public service set a new direction for Indian politics. During the Emergency, she fought for the restoration of democracy and faced various tortures and atrocities at the hands of the then Congress government," Scindia stated. "She was imprisoned but neither bowed, succumbed, nor broke. She remained steadfast in her commitment to democratic values and respect for the Constitution," he added in a post on X in Hindi. "The thoughts of the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on her towering personality and contributions are inspiring for all of us," he said.

In response, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Dear Maharaj, why don't you ever mention your revered father, or will you completely disregard him just to spread BJP's propaganda?" Khera noted that "the late Madhavrao Scindia became an MP in Indira Gandhi's government in 1980. Did you never ask your father why he was against the Sangh or why he didn’t support the Sangh in opposing the Emergency?"

The Congress leader also remarked, "RSS chief at the time, Balasaheb Deoras, even wrote to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, congratulating her on the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding her election in 1975, and distanced the RSS from the anti-Emergency movements." He added, "The same RSS today is busy setting up shop, selling stories of resistance it never lived."

Khera summed up by stating, "As they say, 'The father couldn’t swat a fly, and the son calls himself a warrior.' The history of the RSS is built on lies, and their so-called struggle can be encapsulated on a single grain of rice."