While millions wait for basic needs, Modi tweets with his elite Twitter buddies. People with newly opened bank accounts wait for Modi to bring back the black money and deposit their share, while Modi travels the world making friends and promoting his “image”. Meanwhile, wooing the masses with empty promises keeps the charade alive. But then, as a BJP spokesperson, I guess he would. This is a surprising statement for him to make when the present government has undermined every institution and dented every vestige of democracy. Akbar says “now Indian Democracy is too strong” for another emergency to be declared. This time round, they have managed to usher in a dictatorial regime seemingly within the constitutional purview and without having to resort to Article 352, which in any case has been made more difficult since its amendment in 1978. It would appear that Narendra Modi and his backroom boys have studied this and have learnt their lessons well. It records Indira Gandhi’s actions that led to the declaration and continuance of the Emergency and reads like a textbook, with step-by-step instructions for a potential dictator.

Reddy but circulated under George’s name. I was recently rereading The Anatomy of a Dictatorship, authored by C.G.K. We also planned and executed selective sabotage and I was in charge of training the southern wing of the movement. Once I even disguised myself as a young sardar to accompany George, who was dressed similarly, to Hyderabad. We printed and distributed underground literature, sheltered fugitives and escorted them. The underground movement was a massive network. Only then did my parents consent to my involvement. Finally, it was agreed that only selective violence against symbols of state control would be used, provided it would not harm any living being. My mother was arguing for non-violence, while George believed that the end justified the means. Sitting on the compound wall, I overheard the conversation. I remember my mother asking me to wait outside the house where George was taking refuge while she had a private word with him. Reddy of The Hindu maintained their cover, though opposed to Indira Gandhi’s authoritarianism.īecause of my political upbringing, I was raring to join George and contribute to the underground movement. Several political activists and leaders had gone underground, including George Fernandes.

Other headlines screamed “Preventive Arrests”, “Thousands Jailed” and “Press Censorship Imposed”.

On June 27, we awoke to the terrifying headlines “President Proclaims National Emergency”, “Security of India Threatened by Internal Disturbances”.

Return of the shadow