Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has criticized the Congress party for imposing Emergency on India in 1975. Speaking at a public meeting in Delhi’s Babarpur area, Puri said that it was the only time democracy was trampled in the country. He described it as a black day for India’s democracy, saying that not only political activists but also students and journalists were put behind bars during the Emergency.
On this day in 1975, the then-Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, suspended civil liberties and censored the press with her government’s imposition of Emergency. The crackdown began the morning after the announcement, with opposition leaders and activists being imprisoned across the country. The Emergency persisted until March 21, 1977, when it was lifted.
The events surrounding the Emergency are viewed by many as one of the most controversial periods in India’s political history. The imposition of Emergency provoked widespread indignation, and the government was accused of using it to suppress opposition critical of the ruling party.
The 21-month Emergency saw the suppression of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of association. Thousands of opposition politicians, activists, and journalists were detained, and many were subjected to torture and harassment.
Even though the Emergency was a long time ago, its legacy persists, making it a controversial topic of discussion. Some agree with Puri’s position that the Emergency was a black day in India’s democracy, while others hold different views. Nonetheless, the imposition of the Emergency will remain an important chapter in India’s political history.
