'Unimaginable horrors': Union Cabinet passes resolution on Emergency; observes 2-minute silence

Time of India

4 hours ago

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In a media briefing, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, observed a two-minute silence as a tribute to the victims of the excesses committed during the Emergency.
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"The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, resolved to commemorate and honour the sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency and its attempt at subversion of the spirit of the Indian Constitution. A subversion which began in 1974 with a heavy-handed attempt at crushing the Nav Nirman Andolan and Sampoorn Kranti Abhiyan. To mark the occasion, a two-minute silence was observed in today's meeting of the Union Cabinet as a tribute to those whose constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights were taken away and who were then subjected to unimaginable horrors," Vaishnaw said.
"The Union Cabinet paid tribute to their exemplary courage and valiant resistance to the Emergency's excesses. The year 2025 marks 50 years of the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, an unforgettable chapter in the history of India where the Constitution was subverted and the republic and democratic spirit of India were attacked. Federalism was undermined, and fundamental rights, human liberty, and dignity were suspended.
The Union Cabinet reaffirmed that the people of India continue to repose unflinching faith in the Indian Constitution and the resilience of the country's democratic ethos. It is as important for the young as it is for the old to draw inspiration from those who resisted dictatorial tendencies and stood firm to defend our Constitution and its democratic fabric. India, as the mother of democracy, stands as an example of preserving, protecting and safeguarding constitutional values.
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Let us as a nation renew our resolve to uphold our Constitution and its democratic and federal spirit," the Union minister added.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi called the imposition of Emergency "one of the darkest chapters in India's history" and said the values enshrined in the Constitution were set aside as the Congress "placed democracy under arrest."
PM Modi said no one can ever forget the manner in which the spirit of the Constitution was violated, adding that the 42nd Amendment was a prime example of the Congress's actions.
"Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history — the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished, and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed.
It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!" PM Modi said in a post on X.
"We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies, who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India's democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.
It was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress Government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections — which they badly lost," he added.
Meanwhile, to mark 50 years of Emergency, BlueKraft presented a new book: The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader. According to BlueKraft, the book delves into the compelling role that PM Modi — then a young RSS pracharak — played in the fight against the Emergency.
"This book is a tribute to the grit and resolve of those who refused to be silenced, and it offers a rare glimpse into the early trials that forged one of the most transformative leaders of our time," BlueKraft said.
Speaking about The Emergency Diaries, PM Modi said it contains a compilation of his journey during the Emergency years. The Prime Minister also urged all those who remember those dark days — or whose families suffered during that time — to share their experiences on social media. He said this will help create awareness among the youth about the shameful period from 1975 to 1977.