New Delhi: In surprising move Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch LK Advani was not invited to a programme organised to felicitate those who fought against Emergency. The programme was attended by BJP President Amit Shah and several people who were the victims of brutal torture during Emergency were felicitated.

But surprisingly Advani, who spent 19 months in jail during Emergency and has been one of its most vocal critics, was missing.

In fact Advani had recently commented on Emergency which had embarrassed the BJP leadership. 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.