"Prime Minister Modi Reflects on Darkest Episodes of India's Democratic Past: 50-Year Anniversary of Emergency"
Fifty years on, Modi slams 1975 Emergency as a "dark chapter" in India's democratic history
In a frank assessment on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the 1975 Emergency as one of the worst periods in India's democratic timeline. He reproached the Congress government for usurping democracy, curtailing fundamental rights, and muzzling the press.
Taking to X, Modi expressed his discontent, saying, "When Congress was in power, they locked up democracy. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights suspended, the press was silenced, and numerous political leaders, activists, students, and regular people were incarcerated."
The PM shared a series of thought-provoking tweets, admitting how the Emergency period "revealed the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament was silenced, and attempts were made to control the courts."
Reminiscing about the Emergency era, Modi, who was a young RSS Pracharak during that time, considered it an enlightening experience that emphasized the importance of preserving our democratic foundations. He also highlighted the efforts put forth by individuals across the political spectrum during the anti-Emergency movement.
Sharing his enthusiasm for a book, titled "Lessons from the Anti-Emergency Movement," published by the BlueKraft Digital Foundation, Modi stated, "I am delighted that the experiences from that time have been documented and penned by Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji, an essential figure from the anti-Emergency movement."
The Emergency was declared by Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975, citing threats from internal disturbance. The emergency proclamation was made under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution[1][2]. During this 21-month period, civil liberties suffered significantly, free speech was suppressed, and opposition leaders were apprehended without trial[1][2][4].
The Emergency came into force soon after the Allahabad High Court convicted Indira Gandhi of electoral malpractice in her 1971 Lok Sabha re-election campaign. Despite the conditional relief granted by the Supreme Court, political opposition and social unrest escalated, instigated by leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan who led nationwide protests[2][5].
Infamous for its attacks on India's democratic institutions[1][4][5], the Emergency period witnessed the suspension of fundamental rights, the internment of political opponents, and the censorship of dissenting voices[1][4][5]. The government undertook several controversial measures, including forced sterilization campaigns and suppressing political dissent[5].
Ultimately, the Emergency ended abruptly in 1977 when Indira Gandhi called for general elections, released political prisoners, and restored democratic processes[1][4][5]. This unfortunate period in India's history has left an indelible mark on its political and social landscape and remains a significant memory of the struggles faced in upholding democracy.
- In his address on politics and policy-and-legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Emergency as a time of war-and-conflicts within democracy, a dark chapter in India's history where fundamental rights were suppressed and the press was silenced.
- The general-news of the 1975 Emergency marked a time in India's history where political battles were fought, with individuals across the spectrum working towards the restoration of democracy in the face of threats to their fundamental rights and silenced voices.
