Rijiju slams opposition for Targeting democratic institutions, cites emergency era

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Sunday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing them of systematically targeting key institutions of Indian democracy and warning that voters would deliver a “befitting reply.”

In a series of posts on social media platform X, Rijiju alleged that opposition parties had escalated their criticism from government agencies and electronic voting systems to constitutional bodies and the judiciary.

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“All opposition parties have attacked government agencies, EVMs, the Election Commission, the media, and are now targeting the judiciary. They don’t realise that they are attacking the core of Indian democracy,” he wrote. “Wait—the people of India will give them a befitting reply and teach them a lifelong lesson!”

The minister’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions, with opposition leaders in recent months raising concerns over the functioning of institutions such as the Election Commission of India, the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and the independence of investigative agencies. The government has consistently rejected these allegations, maintaining that democratic institutions remain robust and impartial.

Rijiju also invoked historical precedents to counter opposition criticism, referring to actions taken during Congress-led governments. Questioning the opposition’s record, he said, “Was Indian democracy thriving when the Emergency was imposed in 1975?”—a reference to The Emergency in India, when civil liberties were curtailed under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He further cited the supersession of senior judges in 1973, alleging political interference in judicial appointments, and recalled that the Supreme Court had once described the Central Bureau of Investigation as a “caged parrot.”

Rijiju also accused previous Congress governments of appointing individuals with political affiliations to key constitutional posts and agencies, contrasting this with what he described as a more transparent, committee-based appointment system in place today.

The minister additionally referred to amendments to the Constitution’s Preamble during the Emergency period, alleging that those who now raise concerns about democratic values had remained silent at the time. “The sins committed by the Congress Party never end… People of India are not fools!” he said.

The opposition has yet to respond in detail to Rijiju’s latest remarks, though several parties have previously defended their criticism of institutions as necessary for safeguarding democratic accountability. The exchange underscores the deepening political divide ahead of upcoming electoral contests, with both sides invoking institutional integrity and historical legacy to bolster their arguments.