Wed Jun 25 18:04:30 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Maharashtra Congress Slams Government Over Emergency Ads and “Extravagant” Meals**

**Mumbai, India – June 25, 2025** – The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has launched a scathing attack on the state government, accusing it of distorting history and misusing public funds. At a press briefing held in Mumbai today, MPCC President Harshwardhan Sapkal criticized the government’s advertisements commemorating the Emergency, alleging the replacement of the State emblem with the Sengol, a historical scepter, was a “conspiracy to alter the Constitution.”

“The State emblem is missing in the advertisements issued by the State government, and a Sengol is displayed instead. This is not just symbolic but is part of a larger conspiracy to alter the Constitution,” Sapkal stated. He also questioned the government’s adherence to constitutional values, accusing the ruling BJP of prioritizing RSS ideology.

Sapkal further raised concerns about reports of lavish meals, reportedly served on silver plates rented at ₹550 each, provided to members of the Estimates Committees of Parliament and State governments during a recent conference in Mumbai. He questioned the source of funding for the “royal feast” costing ₹5,000 per head, especially in light of alleged fund shortages for farm loan waivers and social welfare programs. “The government claims that there are no funds for farm loan waivers or to increase the stipend under the Ladki Bahin scheme to ₹2,100, but there’s ample money for such extravaganza,” he said.

In response, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Maharashtra Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, denied the Congress’s claims regarding the emblem, stating, “We don’t use emblems in government advertisements. This has been used as a cultural symbol of democracy.”

The Congress party also released a special “Emergency” edition of its official publication, Janmanasachi Shidori, featuring articles by Indira Gandhi and other prominent figures, to mark the anniversary of the controversial event.

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