On 48th anniversary, PM Modi, ministers bow to those who dared to challenge The Emergency

Marking the 48th anniversary of The Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25th June in 1975, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several of his Cabinet colleagues today paid homage to those who dared to oppose the “dark days of emergency” and were sent to jail for raising their voice against the crushing of democratic values.

PM Modi said the 21-month period remains an “unforgettable period” in our history, which was “totally opposite” to Constitutional values.

“I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates,” the PM tweeted.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, also tweeted a poster with Indira Gandhi’s face along with the words “the darkest chapter of Indian democracy”.

“1975 Emergency: A horrible saga of trampling the Temple of Democracy!” the party tweeted along with the visual.

Union Minister Smriti Irani posted a five-minute video with the hashtag #DarkDaysOfEmergency, which narrates the events leading to The Emergency, and alleged brutalities by the Congress government during the period. “Freedom of press was choked, and the judiciary’s arms cut off,” it said. The video features archival clips from that time, with a passionate narration, slickly edited with provocative text.

“Torture, imprisonment, murder, stifling the voice of free press – 25th June 1975 symbolises all that and more. Lest you forget, what the Emergency imposed on India and Indians entailed; do watch this video & see what the Congress party is capable of! #DarkDaysOfEmergency,” the minister tweeted.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted a two-minute clip from PM’s monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat’ where he talks about the alleged atrocities committed against supporters of democracy.

“The emergency declared on June 25 1975 by an insecure & authoritarian ruler will always be remembered as a crushing blow to democracy & human rights. It also puts under spotlight, a particular family’s & political outfit’s arrogance & lust to cling to power,” Puri tweeted.

Several other ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Pralhad Joshi, Nitin Gadkari, former minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also condemned the “dark days for democracy.”