BJP condemns INDI Alliance's decision to boycott journalists, terms it 'Emergency 2.0'

BJP hit out at the I.N.D.I.A alliance today (September 14) after bloc’s decision to boycott 14 select news anchors. While Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the move is reminiscent of the ‘dark days of emergency’, BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda retorted the decision as ‘Media Bullying’. Notably the I.N.D.I.A bloc’s Media Committee today took a decision not to send their representatives on the shows and events hosted by certain journalists/anchors. 

The BJP issued a statement opposing the move by the I.N.D.I.A bloc. “BJP severely opposes such derogatory mentality which hinders freedom of expression. The decision of political parties which are part of the "ghamandiya" alliance to boycott some journalists shows their mentality of the time of repressive Emergency. We have all seen that in a similar manner how the media was stifled and gagged during Emergency. Today also the "ghamandiya" alliance is working with the same mindset of Emergency and vengeance against the media,” read the statement.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri compared the move to the Emergency that curbed media rights. "The only instance we have seen of civil liberties being curtailed in India was during the Emergency in 1975," he said in a post on X. "Open calls for eradication of Sanatan Dharma, FIRs against journalists and boycott of media reflect politics of those dark years of emergency. True face of I.N.D.I.Alliance," he said.

The history of Congress has many instances of bullying the media and silencing those with differing views.

Pandit Nehru curtailed free speech and arrested those who criticised him.

Indira Ji remains the Gold Medal winner of how to do it- called for committed judiciary,…

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) September 14, 2023

‘Congress has a history of bullying media’: JP Nadda

JP Nadda said, These days, the I.N.D.I Alliance is ONLY doing two things: Bashing Sanatana Sanskriti - each party is competing to outdo the other in hurling the choicest abuses towards Sanatana Sanskriti. Bullying the media - filing FIRs, threatening individual journalists, making “lists” in true Nazi style of who to target. The Emergency era Mindset is alive among these parties.”

Recounting how Congress leaders in the past had taken punitive steps on the fourth pillar of democracy Nadda said, The history of Congress has many instances of bullying the media and silencing those with differing views. Pandit Nehru curtailed free speech and arrested those who criticised him. Indira Ji remains the Gold Medal winner of how to do it- called for committed judiciary, committed bureaucracy and imposed the horrific Emergency.”

“Rajiv Ji tried to bring media under state control but failed miserably. Sonia Ji-led UPA was banning social media handles simply because the Congress did not like their views,” he added.

With the news anchor boycott, the rehearsal to reinstate censorship has officially begun. However, unfortunately for them, the people of Bharat will elect Sri Narendra Modi in 2024 again as the Prime Minister, who will ensure that the dark days of emergency do not return to our…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 14, 2023

‘Rehearsal to reinstate censorship’: Himanta Biswa Sarma

The I.N.D.I.A bloc is warming up to reinstate media blackout in the country said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, “With the news anchor boycott, the rehearsal to reinstate censorship has officially begun. However, unfortunately for them, the people of Bharat will elect Sri Narendra Modi in 2024 again  as the Prime Minister, who will ensure that the dark days of emergency do not return to our country again.”

Union minister Anurag Thakur also hit out at the opposition bloc, saying this move shows their desperation. Addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan's Bhilwara, he said, "Everyday, the leaders of Congress and their allies say they will destroy Sanatan Dharma and leave no stone unturned to insult Hindus. Now they have even started boycotting journalists and are filing cases. Be it in Chennai or Bengal, they are filing cases out of desperation and panic, and at the same time they are saying that they will eradicate Sanatan Dharma."