Advani’s ‘Emergency’ remark cannot be dismissed, says Sena

• SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE

"When he [Mr. Advani] set forth his fear of a recurrence of an Emergency again, he is definitely pointing at somebody."

The Shiv Sena on Monday said that L.K. Advani’s controversial remark about the recrudescence of a 1975-like Emergency situation could not be ignored.

An editorial in the Sena’ party mouthpiece Saamna said that when a tall leader within the BJP of Mr. Advani’s stature was expressing the bogey of the Emergency at a time when the Modi government was in the Centre with a massive mandate, it was obvious that he was pointing at somebody.

“The question is who is this person that Mr. Advani is hinting at?” asked the editorial, taking a sly dig at Mr. Modi.

“Even if he is not part of mainstream politics today, his party and the media and the Indian political world take notice of Mr. Advani’s comments. When he [Mr. Advani] set forth his fear of a recurrence of an Emergency again, he is definitely pointing at somebody,” said the editorial.

The Sena, whose relations with the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the State have reached the nadir of mutual goodwill, questioned as to what made Mr. Advani suddenly think of the Emergency on its 40th anniversary and draw a parallel with present-day politics.

“One cannot ignore the comment of a senior leader like Mr. Advani. If he wishes to hint at the internal affairs of the BJP, he should clearly speak out. Recently, senior BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and Kirti Azad too have spoken against practices they were not satisfied within their party,” the editorial said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/advanis-recurrence-of-emergency-remark-cannot-be-dismissed-says-sena/article7341918.ece?homepage=true