External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently took to Twitter to recall the dark days of the Emergency imposed in India in 1975. On the anniversary of the declaration of Emergency, he urged the country to remember those challenging times and how the nation overcame them. Jaishankar also emphasized how the Emergency solidified the democratic fabric of the country and called it the defining political experience of his generation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to those who resisted the dark period of Emergency and worked to strengthen the democratic spirit. In his tweet, he called the emergency a totally opposite period to the values our Constitution celebrates and paid tribute to those who courageously resisted it.
The Emergency was imposed in 1975 by the then-Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It came into effect on June 25, 1975 and was later withdrawn on March 21, 1977. The order was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing internal disturbance. It vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed.
The Emergency, which lasted for 21 months until 1977, is considered one of the most controversial periods in India’s history. The period saw widespread human rights violations and political suppression, leading to widespread public protest. The emergency was opposed by a coalition of political parties and civil rights activists and led to the formation of a new political party, the Janata Party.
The 48th anniversary of the emergency is a reminder of India’s resilience and determination to uphold democracy and protect civil liberties. While the emergency is a dark chapter in India’s history, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of democratic institutions, civil rights, and political freedom. As the country moves forward, it is necessary to remember these lessons and continue to uphold the values that India’s Constitution celebrates.
