Birla Matushri Auditorium reverberated with applause as Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an impassioned speech on the constitutional crisis created by Emergency during the Congress rule under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In Mumbai on Tuesday for the third annual Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) meeting, the PM took time to speak at a special event organised to discuss the 21-month turbulent and tumultuous period from 1975 to 1977, which is seen by many as one of the darkest chapters of independent India.

The PM began by saying that his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was not observing ‘Black Day’ to criticise the Congress, but pointed out that “whenever the Congress is out of power they promote a narrative that the country is in trouble and only they can save the country”.

Modi, who had early on Tuesday criticised the Congress in a series of tweets over Emergency, highlighted how some journalists and media houses had to face problems due to their relentless struggle for press freedom during Emergency.

“There were very few people who fought for the freedom of speech and press. Ramnath Goenka, Kuldip Nayar, The Statesman they fought for the freedom of press,” said the PM.

“I respect Kuldip Nayar ji. He is one of our staunchest critics but I salute him for his fight for freedom during Emergency,” the PM said in praise of the veteran journalist.

“When Kishore Kumar ji refused to sing for them, his songs and films were not allowed to be broadcast or played on the radio,” said the PM.

“It is only to grab power,” said Modi as he underlined that the Black Day was being observed to make the youth of today aware of the dark days of Emergency.

“Youth today do not have an idea of what happened during Emergency. They will not know that how living without freedom can be,” said the PM stressing on the need to revisit the period when the country was thrust into a political uncertainty.

“The country never thought that just for lust for power and servility to one family, India would be made into one big jail. Every person lived in fear. Constitution was misused,” said the PM as he accused the Congress leadership of the time of imprisoning opposition leaders.

“For them, the country and democracy have no value. Instead of (Indira Gandhi) quitting as PM after the court verdict, Emergency was imposed. How can these people talk about safeguarding the Constitution,” he said.

“The party which has no internal democracy cannot be expected to follow the ideals of a democracy,” he said.

He also criticised the Congress for moving an impeachment motion against the Supreme Court chief justice.

“They never imagined that corruption charge could be framed against them in court and they would have to seek bail. So now they are trying to scare the judiciary by bringing impeachment motion. Their mentality now is the same as it was during Emergency,” said the PM.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to protect the Constitution, Modi said those who “trampled upon the constitution, jailed the country’s democracy, are today spreading fear that Modi will interfere in the Constitution”.

Modi accused the Congress of criticising EVMs and the functioning of the Election Commission after they were reduced to 44 seats from 400 in Lok Sabha. “They did not question the EVMs after the recent Karnataka elections,” he added.