Congress member compares Hollande, Indira Gandhi's emergency

Panaji, Nov 20: Congress Working Committee member and state Congress president Luizinho Faleiro has compared former prime minister Indira Gandhi's decision to impose emergency to the state of emergency imposed by French President Francois Hollande following the terror attacks in Paris.

"Hollande on Thursday said we are imposing emergency all over France... It may go on for three months, it may go on for longer period. When we criticise Indira Gandhi for imposing emergency, we should understand that at that time some people demanded Khalistan, others were trying to destroy India," Faleiro told reporters while offering tribute to the late prime minister.

France on Thursday formally imposed emergency following November 13 terror attacks in Paris for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

Faleiro argued that even a country like France that greatly value freedom, liberty and equality was forced to impose emergency in desperate circumstances.

The former chief minister also said that people often refer the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977 as a black spot on India, but added that congress should be proud of the fact that Gandhi's foresightedness actually held the country together.

"Congressmen should boast with pride that a leader like Indira Gandhi kept the country united even at the cost of her blood," Faleiro said.

IANS