PM Modi to visit Mumbai, target Congress over Emergency

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a speech in Mumbai on Tuesday at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai  unit to express his gratitude towards those who fought against the mid-seventies’ Emergency in the country in his efforts to uphold democratic values.

The BJP has decided to target the Congress over the Emergency. The state government had decided to give pension to political prisoners during the 21-month period when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a state of emergency declared across the country.

The development comes at a time when several political parties, including National Democratic Alliance partner Shiv Sena, are slamming the BJP over the violence going on in the Kashmir valley, the ceasefire during Ramzan  and other issues.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti fired back over the allegations levelled by BJP president Amit Shah and clarified that she had taken all decisions after consultation with the BJP. Congress president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the PM Modi-led government over atrocities against dalits and on other issues for many days.

Considering the atmosphere created against the BJP in the country and in the state, the BJP has decided to counterattack the Congress by digging up the Emergency issue, said party sources.

Keeping in mind the upcoming elections next year, the BJP can’t attack the Congress over corruption and other issues in the Centre or the state. Congress leaders have been raising questions over Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders’ contribution to the freedom struggle. So, the BJP has decided to target the Congress over the Emergency issue.

The state government had decided to give pension to political prisoners of the Emergency.

The Congress is closely studying Modi’s upcoming Mumbai event. “We will comment after the Prime Minister’s speech,” said senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan.

Meanwhile, Mr Modi will also inaugurate the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The theme for this year’s meeting is “Mobilising finance for infrastructure: innovation and collaboration”. This year will also see the launch of the inaugural Asian Infrastructure Forum, which will gather infrastructure practitioners in a practical and project-driven discourse, focused on matching innovative finance to critical infrastructure needs, an official statement said.

Later, the Prime Minister will meet business leaders and captains of industry, for a discussion on issues such as economic growth, infrastructure development, policy initiatives, investment, innovation and job creation.

AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond.