Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda launched a sharp political attack on the INDIA alliance and the Indian National Congress on Thursday, 25 June 2026, accusing the opposition bloc of pursuing an anti-national agenda driven by a hunger for power rather than the nation's welfare. Posting on X under the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas — a term the BJP uses to mark the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency — Nadda also cited a recent statement attributed to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as evidence that Congress's mindset has not changed.

Context

Nadda's post, written in Hindi, states: 'INDI alliance ki gatividhiyaan desh ko mazboot banana nahin, balki satta ki lalsa mein rashtravirodhhi agenda ke saath khada hona hai' — ('The activities of the INDIA alliance are not about strengthening the country, but about standing with an anti-national agenda in a lust for power.'). He added that Congress's thinking has not changed even today.

Nadda specifically referenced a statement he attributed to Ashok Gehlot, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan and a senior Congress leader, claiming Gehlot had said that had a leader like Smt. Indira Gandhi been in power today, she would have imposed a ban on the Bharatiya Janata Party. Nadda presented this as proof of Congress's authoritarian instincts.

Policy Backdrop

The date of 25 June carries heavy political symbolism in India. It was on 25 June 1975 that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency, suspending fundamental rights and drawing criticism that has persisted across decades as one of the darkest chapters in post-independence Indian democratic history. The BJP has consistently marked this anniversary as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' ('Constitution Murder Day'), framing it as a reminder of what it describes as Congress's anti-democratic legacy.

Nadda, who serves simultaneously as BJP national president and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, used the occasion to contrast that legacy with what he described as the development-oriented governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His post states that the country is moving forward in the direction of development and a 'Viksit Bharat' ('Developed India') under Modi's leadership with the support of the people.

Stakeholders and Impact

The INDIA alliance — a multi-party opposition coalition formed to contest the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance — has been a recurring target of ruling party rhetoric, with BJP leaders frequently characterising it as a power-hungry grouping lacking a constructive agenda. Congress and its allies have not yet formally responded to Nadda's post at the time of publication.

Gehlot, a veteran Congress leader who served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, has been one of the more vocal senior figures in the party. The statement attributed to him — invoking Indira Gandhi's hypothetical willingness to ban the BJP — has drawn significant political attention and is being used by the BJP to reinforce its Emergency-era narrative.

What's Next

Responses from Congress leadership and INDIA alliance partners are expected in the coming hours and days, particularly given the charged symbolism of the 25 June date. The exchange is likely to spill into the monsoon session of Parliament, where constitutional and democratic values have historically been flashpoints for sharp debate. The BJP's annual Emergency anniversary campaign typically extends over several days, suggesting further statements from senior party leaders are forthcoming.