Tharoor invokes 1975 Emergency to defend protests against ‘electoral fraud’ allegations
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding its recent characterization of protests concerning alleged electoral irregularities. Addressing the prevailing narrative that such dissent is anti-national or externally funded to orchestrate a “regime change,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP pointed toward historical precedents to validate the necessity of a united opposition.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit in the national capital, Tharoor argued that the current climate of protest shares DNA with the historic resistance against the Emergency imposed in 1975. “Modi does keep talking about the Emergency and how the Emergency was overthrown,” Tharoor noted. “How was it overthrown? Through an Opposition, where the RSS and the BJP were merging with socialists and leftists. They all united in order to defeat the government that had declared the Emergency. That’s recent Indian political history.”
Distinguishing protest from violence
During the interactive session, the former diplomat firmly distanced the opposition’s protest efforts from the violent unrest seen recently in nations like France. Tharoor emphasized that India’s democratic framework provides a clear distinction between protected dissent and illegal acts.
“The line is very clearly drawn by our Constitution, by our laws,” he said. “Peaceful protest is the democratic right of every Indian citizen; violence is not.” He asserted that no mainstream political party in India, including his own, would endorse or tolerate the kind of destructive agitation that has gripped parts of Europe.
The goal: Accountability, not anarchy
Addressing concerns regarding the term “regime change”—a phrase recently echoed by various student leaders and activists—Tharoor clarified that the Congress party’s objective is focused on systemic correction rather than radical upheaval. He underscored that the primary grievance lies with the perceived irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
“We believe in peaceful, organised, and disciplined protest,” the Congress leader stated. He expressed hope that both the government and the Election Commission would face scrutiny, leading to a more transparent and “clean” electoral system.
Tharoor articulated that the ultimate goal for the opposition is to ensure that every citizen’s right to vote remains uncompromised. “In a free and fair election, there will not be ‘regime change’; there will be government change,” he said. “The Indian public has seen the inadequacies of the present government, but we want to bring that about through free and fair elections.”
Navigating the ‘Opposition Unity’ paradox
When questioned about the seemingly contradictory nature of the Congress party aligning with groups like AISA—a leftist student organization—while often being political rivals in states like Kerala, Tharoor advocated for a broader perspective of political maturity.
Highlighting his support for student activists like Neha Bora, he noted that the current political climate demands a degree of moderation and acceptance. “These parties have their value,” Tharoor said, praising the energy and vitality that younger voices have brought to the movement. For the Congress, he concluded, this alignment is less about long-term ideological mergers and more about the immediate, collective necessity of maintaining a vibrant, united democratic opposition in the face of perceived institutional decline.
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