Opposition trains guns at Modi after Advani shares his fears of emergency, BJP, RSS downplay comments

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch LK Advani's statement fearing 'the return of an emergency-like situation' has created a buzz in political circles. While opposition parties are using his statement to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) dismissed speculations that Advani's statement was a barb aimed at the PM.

Latching on to Advani's remarks, Congress said that the hidden meaning of the BJP leader was obvious. "Today the jury is out. Advaniji is vocal. What he had to say, he has said. It is obvious whom he is talking about, whose government is there, who is the Prime Minister. He knows it. But he is a statesman-like leader of the BJP. He did not want to name the Prime Minister. But whoever reads the interview, he/she would understand he is talking about Modi," Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said. he also added that Advani is "right" when he says the present situation in the country signals towards emergency.

Janata Dal United (JDU) leader KC Tyagi, who was also imprisoned with Advani during thre Emergency, said "I agree with Adavani Ji that circumstances like emergency and context are still alive and the reasons lead to emergency are not finished yet."

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, too, echoed Advani's statements and claimed that the state was facing issues on a daily basis. "Advani is among the senior-most leaders of BJP and his concerns should be considered seriously. As far as an Emergency-like situation is concerned, we are facing it on a daily basis," Kumar said.

SP leader Naresh Aggarwal claimed that that if Advani has expressed a worry then it was for the government to consider it seriously as a veteran member of their party has expressed a concern like this. "The system that is going on in the country at this time is not democratic and somewhere the dictatorship attitude is reflecting," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party also said that Advani's remarks indicate that he has no faith in the BJP government.

"Advaniji clearly visualises that the leadership of Mr Modi and the government of BJP are every day crushing Indian democracy and creating a situation and ambience where emergency is not far," AAP leader Ashutosh said.

However, the BJP and the RSS defended the PM claiming that Advani has been misquoted.

"I think Advanji was referring to institutions rather than to individuals. I respect his views, but I personally don't see emergency, any chance of any emergency being reimposed in the country. I think that age is over, Indian democracy is too strong, much stronger now," BJP spokesperson MJ Akbar said.

RSS ideologue MG Vaidya, too, said Advani is a member of the BJP's Magadarshak Mandal and his message was not aimed at Modi. "I don't feel anything like that. He (Advani) is quite senior in age and experience. So he can talk to Modi. He is in the 'Margdarshak Mandal' of BJP. I don't think he has an intention of sending a message to Modi through this interview."

In an interview ahead of the 40th anniversary of the Emergency, the veteran BJP leader said that "forces that can crush democracy" are stronger. "At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger," Advani said.

In the years since the Emergency in 1975-77, he said, "I don't think anything has been done that gives the assurance that civil liberties will not be suspended or destroyed again. Not at all."

Much to the embarrassment of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Advani said that "a commitment to democracy is lacking in the country". The BJP veteran said, "I do not see any sign in our polity that assures me, any outstanding aspect of leadership. A commitment to democracy and to all other aspects related to democracy is lacking."

Pointing that there were not "enough safeguards in India in 2015" to prevent an emergency-like situation, Advani said that he could not assert confidently that an emergency could not happen again.

Though he mentioned about some "weaknesses" in the political leadership, he added that he did not mean that it was "not mature".

"Today, I do not say that the political leadership is not mature. I don't have faith because of its weaknesses. I don't have the confidence that it (Emergency) cannot happen again," said the leader.

There had also been a rift within the BJP when Modi was to be declared the Prime Ministerial candidate in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with Advani against his candidature. According to sources, BJP President Rajnath Singh had tried to placate Advani but he had refused to endorse Modi. He had even written a blog which indicated that he was not in favour of Modi as the PM candidate of the party.