Congress creating fear psychosis, spreading lies: PM Modi

"India remembers the Emergency as a dark period during which every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics,"  Modi said while addressing BJP workers in Mumbai on the emergency and democratic values.

Paying tributes to those who had fought the emergency, imposed in 1975, Modi said their struggles "ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties."

Modi, who has often been subjected to criticism by the opposition for stifling democracy and pandering to communal intolerance, asked:"Do you think institutions in our great nation can ever remain free, safe and independent under their (Congress) leadership?"

"In our history, whenever the Congress, especially the "family" feels their chair of power is about to go, they start spreading all sorts of lies... they say that the country is living in fear and intolerance, and only they (Congress) can fix "problem"... It is all a big lie," Modi said.

Referring to his Government's efforts to end the triple talaq system to do justice to Muslim women, the Prime Minister said the Congress is opposed to the move only to protect its vote bank and the bogey it has raised against the BJP and RSS is aimed at creating a confusion to serve the interest of the Gandhi family.

"The Congress has always cared only for their vote bank. They care for nothing else. For example, we are putting an end to triple talaq, because for us the Constitution is prime. It allows equal rights for all individuals, all women. So we, the BJP, do not want the oppression of women of any religion, or caste."

" But Congress, they have always been and are against things like triple talaq, because they do not want to upset their "vote bank", those who keep the 'family' in power,"  Modi said.

"While Congress tries to create doubt, insecurity and fear in the minds of people, we (BJP) always try to keep the faith, build trust and belief in the minds and hearts of people," he added.

"The Congress only focuses on creating the 'fear of unknown'. They keep saying that Jan Sangh and RSS would kill Muslims... nowadays they keep saying RSS will kill Dalits... all for creating a fear psychosis among the citizens..." Modi said.

"Fear, doubt and insecurity are being spread by them (Congress), because it benefits them in keeping the "family" rule over the people," he said.

The PM reminded the media about the impositions made during the time of Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister and blasted the Congress for challenging the process of the infrastructure of the Election Commission and bringing an impeachment motion against the Chief Justice of India.

"When they faced the reality of going from 400 to 40, they could not digest the fact. The election commission was questioned, the process and infrastructure of the EC were challenged. They created fear, doubt and insecurity among the belief of the people. All because one "family" could not accept the reality," he said.

Earlier, the PM arrived in Mumbai and inaugurated the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) at Mumbai's National Centre for the Performing Arts.
He  discussed issues such as economic growth, infrastructure development, policy initiatives, investment, innovation and job creation