Bengaluru: Amid controversy over a social media post comparing Indira Gandhi to Adolf Hitler, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra strongly defended his party’s stand, following the registration of an FIR against the Karnataka BJP unit.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Vijayendra said, “Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the day Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country. This has been discussed across India. What is wrong in comparing her actions to Hitler’s? The entire world knows that India’s democracy collapsed to protect her power.”
The BJP leader alleged that during the 1975 Emergency, civil liberties were crushed, senior opposition leaders and RSS workers were jailed, and media censorship was strictly enforced. He questioned the FIR lodged over the post, calling it an attempt to silence free expression and a deflection from historical truth.
Taking a direct swipe at Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Vijayendra remarked, “He should go back and learn what history says about the Emergency, and how democracy was completely suppressed just to serve one leader’s political interest.”
The post in question, made from BJP Karnataka’s official handle on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), has sparked political debate and criticism from the ruling Congress in the state. However, the BJP insists it is part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the Emergency and the need to protect democratic values.
