Hyderabad, June 28 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been running a strong campaign to bring out the repressive and authoritarian moments of the Indira Gandhi government's emergency in its attempt to paint the Congress as the repressor of free speech in the subcontinent.

These efforts have become a source of embarrassment for the party after comments made by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at a media event organised by Jansatta, a Hindi daily run by the Indian Express group.

Upon being asked if she would allow standup comic Kunal Kamra to perform in Delhi, the chief minister said that he is welcome and can "perform at his own risk."

Upon further prodding, the Delhi CM hesitated and changed the topic.

Responding to Gupta's comme...