Top Rajasthan BJP leader quits party over ‘undeclared emergency’

Disgruntled Rajasthan BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari on Monday resigned from the party, citing “undeclared emergency” in the state and country even as his party at Centre was observing "black day" against the emergency declared by the Indira Gandhi-led government on June 25, 1975.

“Undeclared emergency is more dangerous than actual emergency. I have witnessed both the phases and I am tendering my resignation from the party (BJP) to fight against it,” Tiwari said in a press conference in Jaipur.

The former Rajasthan minister said that there had been an "undeclared emergency" in the country since last four years when the BJP came to power.

“Though imposing emergency is now not possible, it is worth mentioning that the country is going through a phase of undeclared emergency for the last four years,” he said.

Today (June 25) the BJP is observing "black day" against the emergency imposed 1975 by then prime minister Indira Gandhi. BJP chief Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress, saying that the party "murdered democracy" merely to remain in power.

Tiwari had been criticising the Vasundhara Raje government in the state over a number of issues, including farmers’ plight, demand of reservation for the upper caste and corruption.

Earlier last year, BJP’s national disciplinary committee had issued a show-cause notices to Tiwari after he alleged that the Rajasthan BJP under Raje had become a place for mafias and sycophants and party loyalists were being sidelined.

Tiwari said that he will fight the upcoming Assembly election from Sanganer seat under the banner of Bharat Vahini Party, founded by his son, and the doors of the outfit are open for like-minded leaders.

Tiwari's son Akhilesh has founded a new political party named 'Bharat Vahini Party'. He said that he will contest the upcoming Assembly election from Sanganer seat under the banner of his son’s party.

(With PTI inputs)