File Photo: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee
Sharing BJP patriarch LK Advani's fear that "forces that can crush democracy are stronger", former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said that political enmity and vendetta had touched a new low and the fear of an Emergency was still there in Indian politics.
"By and large, I agree that the fear of Emergency is still there. The political enmity and vendetta have stooped to a new low and unfortunately the provision of Emergency still lies there in the Constitution," he told PTI.
Continuing, he said, "The fear of suspension of civil rights and imposition of Emergency is still there, whether in a official way or unofficial way. It can happen both in states and in the Centre."
Mr Advani said in an interview to a national daily, "At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger."
"I don't think anything has been done that gives the assurance that civil liberties will not be suspended or destroyed again. Not at all," he said.