Modi a more brutal dictator than Aurangzeb: Congress

Modi is a more brutal dictator than Aurangzeb, the Congress' Randeep Surjewala retorted. 

"Modi has talked to us about the Emergency," Surjewala added, "but will taking out his frustration on the Congress be able to cover up his empty promises?" 

Surjewala also accused Modi of obfuscating important issues by raking up the past. That people have had to bear hardship (demonetisation, GST) because of the whims of one man (Modi), that there is an atmosphere of fear in the country, and that dissent is being curtailed. 

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel meanwhile criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for commenting on the 1975 Emergency period, and asked the party whether it would apologise for the "undeclared emergency" of the past four years. 

"Will they apologise for the undeclared emergency for last 4 years? People are being lynched and threatened, agencies are being misused, economic and civil liberties are being curtailed," he tweeted. 

Patel, who is Sonia Gandhi`s trusted aide, also defended former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and said the BJP is raking up Emergency-based issues fearing their loss in the 2019 elections. 

"After 4 years, fear of losing 2019 elections is haunting the government & hence they are trying to take refuge in the events of 1975 Emergency. But the fact is after 1977, Indira ji apologised, corrected her mistakes & people of India voted her back" another tweet read. 

June 25 marks the day when Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency across the country for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977. 

However, the BJP is observing the 43rd anniversary of this time period as a "Black Day". 

(With inputs from ANI)