PM Narendra Modi, on the 46th anniversary of imposition of the Emergency by then-PM Indira Gandhi, in a series of tweets said the dark days between 1975-77 “could never be forgotten”.
“The #DarkDaysOfEmergency can never be forgotten. The period from 1975 to 1977 witnessed a systematic destruction of institutions. Let us pledge to do everything possible to strengthen India’s democratic spirit, and live up to the values enshrined in our Constitution,” he said in a tweet.
The #DarkDaysOfEmergency can never be forgotten. The period from 1975 to 1977 witnessed a systematic destruction of institutions.
Let us pledge to do everything possible to strengthen India’s democratic spirit, and live up to the values enshrined in our Constitution.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2021
“This is how Congress trampled over our democratic ethos. We remember all those greats who resisted the Emergency and protected Indian democracy. #DarkDaysOfEmergency,” he tweeted in another tweet.
This is how Congress trampled over our democratic ethos. We remember all those greats who resisted the Emergency and protected Indian democracy. #DarkDaysOfEmergency https://t.co/PxQwYG5w1w
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday also remembered June 25 of 1975 and said that the Emergency was imposed in the nation to quell the voices against one family and termed it as a dark chapter in the history of independent India.
Taking to Twitter, Shah said: “Emergency imposed to quell the voices against one family is a dark chapter in the history of independent India. Salute to the sacrifice of all the countrymen who fought relentlessly for the protection of the Constitution and democracy of the country while suffering the brutal tortures of the ruthless rule for 21 months.”
एक परिवार के विरोध में उठने वाले स्वरों को कुचलने के लिए थोपा गया आपातकाल आजाद भारत के इतिहास का एक काला अध्याय है।
21 महीनों तक निर्दयी शासन की क्रूर यातनाएं सहते हुए देश के संविधान व लोकतंत्र की रक्षा के लिए निरंतर संघर्ष करने वाले सभी देशवासियों के त्याग व बलिदान को नमन।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2021
Shah further said that on this day in 1975, in the selfishness and arrogance of power Congress killed the world’s largest democracy by imposing an Emergency on the country.
“On this day in 1975, Congress killed the world’s largest democracy by imposing emergency on the country in the selfishness and arrogance of power. Innumerable Satyagrahis were imprisoned overnight and the press was locked. Taking away the fundamental rights of the citizens, made the Parliament and the court a mute spectator,” he added.
1975 में आज ही के दिन कांग्रेस ने सत्ता के स्वार्थ व अंहकार में देश पर आपातकाल थोपकर विश्व के सबसे बड़े लोकतंत्र की हत्या कर दी। असंख्य सत्याग्रहियों को रातों रात जेल की कालकोठरी में कैदकर प्रेस पर ताले जड़ दिए। नागरिकों के मौलिक अधिकार छीनकर संसद व न्यायालय को मूकदर्शक बना दिया। pic.twitter.com/SvFmEXKYcn
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2021
Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing “internal disturbance”, the Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977.
The order vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. The final decision to impose an Emergency was proposed by Indira Gandhi, agreed upon by the President, and thereafter ratified by the Cabinet and the Parliament (from July to August 1975), based on the rationale that there were imminent internal and external threats to the Indian state.
The Emergency is considered to be one of the most controversial periods of independent India’s history.
(With ANI Inputs)