Accusing the Congress of insulting institutions, including Parliament, the judiciary, the media and the armed forces when it was in power, Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged people to think wisely before casting their vote in the Lok Sabha elections beginning April 11.

In a blog post, Modi said that his government has changed things as it put institutions above everything else.

“As you go to vote - remember the past and how one family’s desire for power cost the nation so greatly. If they could do it then, they can surely do it now,” wrote Modi. “Think wisely: From the press to the Parliament. From soldiers to free speech. From the constitution to the courts. Institutional insult is the Congress way.”

“India has seen that whenever dynastic politics has been powerful, institutions have taken a severe beating,” he said. Referring to parliamentary proceedings, he said, “The nation knows the numerical dynamics of both houses. It is clear that when a non-dynasty party (has a) higher number, its tendency to work more is visible ... which were the forces disrupting the House and why.”

The PM alleged that dynastic parties have never been comfortable with a free press.

“The very first constitutional amendment brought in by the Congress government sought to curtail free speech. Speaking truth to power, which is the hallmark of a free press was seen as vulgar and indecent,” Modi wrote.

Freedom of speech

He claimed that the UPA years saw the bringing of a law that could land you in prison for posting anything offensive. “A tweet against the son of a powerful UPA minister could land innocent citizens in jail ... the nation watched with horror when a few youngsters were arrested for expressing their true feelings at a programme in Karnataka, where the Congress is sharing power,” he said. Modi said he wants to tell the Congress that “no amount of intimidation” will change the ground realities.

 

 

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