Howrah (West Bengal) [India], June 18 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday condemned the idea of observing June 25 as "Samvidhan Hatya Diwas" and said that she objected to the name. She questioned if democracy prevailed in the country under the current government.
Mamata Banerjee said, "The Central government says that it will celebrate Samvidhan Hatya Diwas on completing 50 years of Emergency this year. I object to the statement 'Samvidhan Hatya'. The Constitution is the basis of our rights; it is the mother of democracy. How can they call it Samvidhan Hatya?"
She further said that a letter was received at the Secretariat and said that, according to the letter, June 25 has to be observed as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.
"It is written that June 25 will be celebrated as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. The emergency did not kill any person. They could have celebrated Emergency Hatya Diwas also, but they are celebrating Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. I completely condemn this idea," she said.
She further said that a film will also be shown on Samvidhan Hatya Diwas and the Central government is asking more power to democracy.
"Is there democracy in India today? Can every day be Republic Hatya Diwas in a democratic system because every day they are killing the republic, every day they are curtailing the fundamental rights of the people, they are also destroying the economy of the state and all the fundamental rights of the state. Are you giving more power to democracy?" she said.
"They are killing democracy every day. They are damaging fundamental rights every day. They are altering the Constitution every day. They are forcing their own agenda on the people. They are Jumla Sarkar. They took the Indian Parliament away from us and built a new one. Wasn't it a heritage? They toppled the governments of Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand. They are even demanding President's Rule for Bengal. It doesn't suit you saying more power to democracy," she hit out at the Centre.
She went on to say that the EC is partial and worked for Centre.
"Those who do not respect the Constitution speak about constitutional morality. If something happens in Bengal, 155-156 teams are sent. What happened during the riots in Gujarat? After Pahalgam attack, when a BJP MP spoke ill about women, what happened then? It is a murder of federalism and rights. They are bulldozing the state governments after demonetisation. Incidents of injustice happen every day in UP," she said.
She further said that not everyone supported the emergency.
"You can work politically, but the tall remarks that you made are baseless, as you are the one who killed democracy. More than 140 people died in queues during demonetisation. After Pahalgam attack, five questions have been raised by our party. None of them have been answered. The special Parliament session has also not been held," she said.