Home minister says when he was in prison during the emergency, he didn't complain even once. Unlike Saturday's protesting Congressman who 'are not ready to take half-a-day's detention'
Home minister says when he was in prison during the emergency, he didn't complain even once. Unlike Saturday's protesting Congressman who 'are not ready to take half-a-day's detention'
ADVERTISEMENT
Home minister V S Acharya speaks to MiD DAY about the ruckus created by Congressmen at the Vidhana Soudha on Saturday and their claims of being detained in a 'dog shed'.
V S Acharya: It is most shameful on the part of opposition leaders to say dog shed. They were more than 300 in number and we kept them in a decent place that could accommodate them all. It had a 16-foot ceiling too.
Regardless, they say it was meant for dogs?
I spent 19 months in prison from 13 July 1975 until 22 January 1977 during the Emergency. I never expressed regret nor complained about the difficulties imposed on my family. Here, these people are not ready to take half-a-day's detention.
What happened finally? Did you speak to the detained Congressmen?
Between 11 am and 1.30 pm, I was in the Vidhana Soudha. I then travelled to Mysore for anu00a0 engagement at the Dasara exhibition grounds. When I returned to Bangalore, it was past 10.30 pm and we had directed the police to let the detained leaders and their people go free. But, they took some time to finally leave the place. None of us met them.
How will you manage these situations in future? Any plans to tackle them?
Yes! (vehemently). In future, if any of the legislators resort to damaging public property, we will recover the expenditure from them.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
