Advani's fear of return of emergency shows he has no faith in Narendra Modi, claims AAP

Soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch Lal Krishna Advani said that he fears a return of an emergency like situation, opposition parties have started training guns against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Leaving no stone unturned to attack the PM, Aam Aadmi Party said said Advani's remarks show he has no faith in Modi. "This reminds me of that time LK Advani hinted at dictatorship and Hitler in his blog when Modiji was being chosen as PM candidate. What LK Advani ji has said shows that he has no faith in Modi and this government," AAP leader Ashutosh said.

In an interview ahead of the 40th Anniversary of the Emergency, the veteran BJP leader said that "forces that can crush democracy" are stronger.

"At the present point of time, the forces that can crush democracy, notwithstanding the constitutional and legal safeguards, are stronger," said the former deputy prime minister.

Much to the embarrassment of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Advani said that "a commitment to democracy is lacking in the country". The BJP veteran said, "I do not see any sign in our polity that assures me, any outstanding aspect of leadership. A commitment to democracy and to all other aspects related to democracy is lacking."

Pointing that there were not "enough safeguards in India in 2015" to prevent an emergency-like situation, Advani said that he could not assert confidently that an emergency could not happen again.

Though he mentioned about some "weaknesses" in the political leadership, he added that he did not mean that it was "not mature".

"Today, I do not say that the political leadership is not mature. I don't have faith because of its weaknesses. I don't have the confidence that it (Emergency) cannot happen again," said the leader.

There had also been a rift within the BJP when Modi was to be declared the Prime Ministerial candidate in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with Advani against his candidature. According to sources, BJP President Rajnath Singh had tried to placate Advani but he had refused to endorse Modi. He had even written a blog which indicated that he was not in favour of Modi as the PM candidate of the party.