Both Hitler and Indira Gandhi transformed 'democracy into dictatorship': Arun Jaitley
Early years
Jaitley made his remarks about Indira and Hitler on Monday, the 43rd anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in the country
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday — which is also the 43rd anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in the country — compared former prime minister Indira Gandhi to Hitler, saying they transformed "democracy into dictatorship".
The Emergency — which was imposed after nationwide protests against Indira reached fever pitch — entailed the setting aside of the constitution and citizens' fundamental rights.
Also read: How the Emergency changed India forever
"Both Hitler & Mrs. Gandhi never abrogated the Constitution. They used a republican Constitution to transform democracy into dictatorship. Hitler arrested most of the opposition Members of Parliament & converted his minority Government in Parliament into a 2/3rd majority govt," Jaitley wrote on Twitter.
"Mrs. Gandhi's imposition of Emergency under Article 352, suspension of fundamental rights under Article 359 and her claim that 'disorder was planned by the opposition in the country', echoed Hitler's 'Reichstag' episode as exposed by the Nuremberg trials after 13 years," Jaitley added.
He also took a swipe at the Congress dynasty, saying that unlike Hitler, Indira went on to transform India into a "dynastic democracy".