Ananth Kumar slams Congress on 'murdering democracy' remarks

BENGALURU: A day after Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "murdering democratic institutions" in India and running a "one man government", Union Minister Ananth Kumar said there was no need to learn lessons on democracy from a party which imposed Emergency.

Presenting a five-chapter report card on the Modi dispensation, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had yesterday said "MODI refers to Murder Of Democratic India" with its "maximum governance becoming maximum arrogance and minimum government becoming one man government".

Slamming Congress, Kumar said, "There is no need to learn lessons on democracy from a party which had imposed Emergency under the leadership of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the country between 1975 to 1977."

"Jairam Ramesh can take lessons from (Karnataka Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah on Indian Independence history because he was a part of Jayprakash Narayan movement and was imprisoned during Emergency imposed by late Indira Gandhi between 1975 to 1977," he told reporters here today.

Taking on Congress Floor Leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kumar said, " BJP is the most democratic party in the country and party matters relating to president's post are not decided by a political dynasty."

"If Jairam Ramesh and Kharge, if they have any chance to become their party president, they can advise others, because a member of the dynastic family is made the president, and hence they do not have any right to call other parties as undemocratic," he said.

Kumar also said Modi never used "Team Narendra Modi", but used "#Team India" comprising not only NDA but also Congress and other Chief Ministers.