'Darkest chapters': PM Modi criticises Congress for 1975 Emergency; 'nefarious attempt made to strangle democracy,' says BJP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
NEW DELHI: Calling the imposition of Emergency on India "the darkest chapters in India's history," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the values enshrined in the Constitution were set aside, and several people were jailed at that time; it was as if the Congress at that time placed democracy under arrest.
On the completion of 50 years of the Emergency, which was imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, PM Modi said no one can ever forget the manner in which the spirit of the Constitution was violated and the 42nd Amendment is a prime example of Congress's shenanigans.
"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 also added.
He also reiterated the commitment to strengthen the principles of the Constitution and working together for the vision of a Viksit Bharat. "May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden," he said.
'The Emergency Diaries'
On the 50 years of Emergency, BlueKraft presented a new book: The Emergency Diaries - Years that Forged a Leader.
According to the BlueKraft, the book delves into the compelling role that PM Modi, then a young RSS Pracharak, played in the fight against 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.
Talking about the 'The Emergency Diaries,' PM Modi said that it has the compilation of his journey during the Emergency years.
The Prime Minister also said that he called upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977.
'Nefarious attempt': Rajnath Singh on 50 years of Emergency
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Fifty years ago, a nefarious attempt was made to strangle Indian democracy through the imposition of Emergency.
"By sidelining the Constitution, the manner in which the Emergency was imposed on the country is a glaring example of the misuse of power and dictatorship. All opposition leaders were thrown into jail. There was no constitutional institution left that was not misused. Yet, the democratic traditions of this country could not be erased by the then government, no matter how much they tried," Rajnath Singh said in a post on X.
"Today, democracy is alive in India, and for this, those who struggled during the Emergency, endured imprisonment, and suffered hardships have made an immense contribution. The future generations of India can never forget their contribution.Prime Minister Shri Modiji has decided to observe June 25 as 'Constitution Assassination Day' so that every citizen remembers how dictatorship attempts to murder democracy," he added.
Emergency on India direct assault on democracy: JP Nadda
Union health minister JP Nadda als criticised the Congress governmnet and said that imposition of Emergency on India murdered the Constitution. and claimed that the oldest party continues to operate with the same mindset.
"India is the world's oldest and largest democratic country. Yet, there have been instances where attempts were made to tamper with the very soul of the Constitution. The nation remembers such moments as dark chapters in the history of its democracy.
On this very day, 50 years ago, the then Congress Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, declared a state of Emergency — an act that was not merely a political development, but a direct assault on democracy, a brutal blow to its foundation," he said in a video.
"At midnight on June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency on India under the pretext of internal disturbance, effectively murdering the Constitution.
Even 50 years later, the Congress party continues to operate with the same mindset. Its intent remains dictatorial to this day," he added.
The Union health minister said during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had barred its leaders from appearing in programmes of some journalists.
If in power it files cases against journalists and boycotts them when in opposition, he added.
Recalling the jailing of opposition leaders, including from the Jana Sangh, the forerunner to the BJP, during the period, Nadda noted that Modi as an RSS functionary had then defied the government and spread awareness among people about the excesses of the Congress.
Nadda also urged people to read the book, 'The Emergency Diaries - Years that Forged a Leader, which highlights Modi's role in fighting the Emergency.
'Painful chapter of independent India's history'
External affairs minister S Jaishankar recalled a painful chapter of independent India's history, when institutions were undermined, rights were suspended and accountability was set aside.
"It also remains a powerful reminder of our collective duty to safeguard constitutional values and uphold the resilience of Indian democracy," he added in a post on X.
Jagdeep Dhankhar says 'Democratic values trampled upon under dark shadow of the Emergency'
The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stated on Tuesday that the Emergency period, which lasted nearly two years, represented the bleakest chapter in India's history. Its severity has led to the day of its proclamation being commemorated as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'.
Speaking as the principal guest at the foundation day event of L N Mishra College of Management in Muzaffarpur, North Bihar, he shared his thoughts on this significant historical event.
"The date June 25, falling tomorrow, was a black day (kaala diwas) 50 years ago. Democratic values had been trampled upon under the dark shadow of the Emergency... It has been decided to observe June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (the day on which democracy was murdered). Boys and girls, that is an occasion for you to know about the barbarity committed during Emergency, the darkest period of Indian history," he said.
The Vice President acknowledged Bihar's crucial role, noting that the transformative movement originated here through Jay Prakash Narayan's call for 'Sampoorn Kranti'.
He expressed his pleasure at visiting this historically significant region.
Amit Shah criticises Congress government, says ' nation never bows down to dictatorship'
Union home minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress government on Tuesday for the imposition of the Emergency and said, 'We overcame a dark chapter like the Emergency because our nation never bows down to dictatorship". He was addressing a gathering at an event marking the 50 years of the Emergency at the Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya.
"Today is the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency...
There may arise a question why something that happened 50 years ago is being discussed now... When 50 years of any national event are completed, good or bad, its memory fades away in society. If the memory of an event like the Emergency that shook the democracy fades away, then that is harmful to the nation," said the union home minister.
Amit Shah said that the Modi government has decided to observe June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' annually so that the "country remembers how a nation suffers when its leaders turn into dictators". He said that the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas should be observed so that the youth remembers how the 'constitution was once silenced'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
13 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Oil prices rise 2% as investors assess Iran-Israel ceasefire, Fed outlook
Oil prices climbed 2 per cent on Wednesday as investors assessed the stability of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, while support also came from market expectations that interest rate cuts could happen soon in the United States, the world's largest economy. Brent crude futures rose $1.31, or 2 per cent, to $68.45 a barrel at 0750 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.24 cents, or 1.9 per cent, to $65.61. Brent settled on Tuesday at its lowest since June 10 and WTI since June 5, both before Israel launched a surprise attack on key Iranian military and nuclear facilities on June 13. Prices had rallied to five-month highs after the US attacked Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend. "Geopolitical risk premiums have been reduced and will take a backseat for Chair Powell's first testimony to Congress (yesterday) has hinted at a slight chance of bringing forward the first rate cut of 2025 to should offer some form of floor on oil prices from the demand side," said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong. Technical factors drove price increases during the session, he added. Lower interest rates typically spur economic growth and demand for oil. A slew of US macroeconomic data released overnight including on consumer confidence showed possibly weaker than expected economic growth in the world's largest oil consumer, bolstering expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts this year. Futures point to nearly 60 basis points worth of easing by December. On the geopolitical front, a preliminary US intelligence assessment said US airstrikes did not destroy Iran's nuclear capability and only set it back by a few months, as a shaky ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump took hold between Iran and Israel. Earlier on Tuesday, both Iran and Israel signalled that the air war between the two nations had ended, at least for now, after Trump publicly scolded them for violating a ceasefire. As the two countries lifted civilian restrictions after 12 days of war - which the US joined with an attack on Iran's uranium-enrichment facilities - each sought to claim victory. "While concerns regarding Middle Eastern supply have diminished for now, they have not entirely disappeared, and there remains a stronger demand for immediate supply," said ING analysts in a client note. Oil prices will likely consolidate at around $65-70 per barrel levels as traders look to more US macroeconomic data this week and the Fed's rate decision, said independent market analyst Tina Teng. Investors were also waiting on US government data on domestic crude and fuel stockpiles due on Wednesday. [EIA/S] Industry data showed US crude inventories fell by 4.23 million barrels in the week ended June 20, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. [API/S] (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Economic Times
16 minutes ago
- Economic Times
‘We don't have money and neither does Siddaramaiah': Karnataka Home Minister's joke triggers political storm
Agencies Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara What started as a light-hearted remark at a local public function has ballooned into a full-blown controversy for the Karnataka government. Home Minister G Parameshwara, speaking at the inauguration of a fire station in Badami on Monday, made an offhand joke that has now gone viral and stirred political mudslinging. During his address, he encouraged Congress MLA BB Chimmankatti to think ambitiously for the region's development—once the heart of the Chalukya dynasty. 'Draft a plan worth Rs 1,000 crore for the development of Badami assembly constituency and send it to the Union government. We don't have money, and neither does Siddaramaiah,' Parameshwara said. The crowd burst into laughter, but not everyone found it one sentence, delivered with a smile, has now become a lightning rod for didn't stop there. To drive the humour home, he added, 'After providing rice, lentils, and oil, the funds are depleted,' before gesturing towards Excise Minister RB Timmapur and saying, 'The 'enne' (liquor or excise) minister is right here.' That remark, too, drew chuckles at the event. But what was laughed off at the venue quickly turned into a political weapon online. The viral clip has dominated regional news, with opposition parties questioning whether the Congress-led state government is financially sound enough to deliver on its intense scrutiny, Parameshwara addressed the media on Tuesday to clarify his comments. 'I have not said like that, who said there is no money?' he said. 'I have defended the government, saying we have presented a record budget… as someone said things jokingly during the speech, I reacted in a similar fashion, that's all.'The minister insisted that the state is on firm fiscal ground. 'A sum of Rs 22,000 crore has been allocated for irrigation in the budget. Allocations have been made for the five guarantee schemes, and instructions have been made to prepare an action plan for Rs 50 crore in every constituency.'He added, 'I'm now saying officially that there is no financial distress in our government. I'm saying it very clearly. Sometimes, there may be a delay in the release of funds, as DPR and estimates have to be prepared before releasing money. There may be some delay in that; other than that, there is nothing else.'Despite the home minister's assurance, his now-infamous line—'We don't have the money, and neither does Siddaramaiah'—continues to echo across political has handed opposition parties an easy talking point as they raise doubts over the state's ability to fund its much-publicised welfare include key programmes promised by the Congress government, such as monthly cash transfers to women heads of households, free electricity, and guarantees of essential grains and food items to below-poverty-line the minister's defence may satisfy party loyalists, the incident has exposed how quickly political humour can backfire—especially when public welfare and fiscal management are under the the people of Karnataka, what matters most is whether development goals and social safety nets continue uninterrupted. The government has its task cut out: to reassure both the electorate and critics that behind the smiles, the budget figures still add up.
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Emergency: When Indira Gandhi donated ₹90,000 for her fiercest critic Jayaprakash Narayan's treatment
In a little-known episode from the Emergency era, former prime minister Indira Gandhi quietly donated a significant sum of ₹ 90,000 for treatment of her fiercest critic, Jayaprakash Narayan, the leader of the nationwide anti-Emergency movement. Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for sampoorn kranti (total revolution) in 1974 to cleanse Indian politics of corruption. (HT Archive) A new book reveals that the donation, which Narayan declined, came at a time when his health had deteriorated and he required a life-saving portable dialysis machine. Arrested on June 26, 1975, just hours after the Emergency was declared, Narayan spent five months in custody in Chandigarh before being released on a 30-day parole in November that year. According to "The Conscience Network: A Chronicle of Resistance to a Dictatorship" by Sugata Srinivasaraju, JP was diagnosed with kidney failure during his custody and required lifelong dialysis to survive. "Very soon, the cost of his treatment, and the regular dialysis he needed, became a matter of worry. It was decided, in due course, that a portable dialyser machine would work out better than going to a hospital regularly. It was also decided that the government's help would not be accepted. Therefore, his admirers started raising money for a dialyser," reads the book. As news of his condition spread, supporters across India and abroad mobilised resources. The plan, according to the book, was to collect Re 1 per person from the public to fund the expensive dialysis machine. However, the progress was slow. "At that point, Indira Gandhi, who learnt about the effort, sent a cheque with a handsome amount on it as her contribution," it added. However, the Indians For Democracy (IFD) -- a diaspora-led organisation formed in the United States just weeks before the Emergency -- was dismayed by the news of Indira Gandhi's donation. The group urged Radhakrishna of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, the organisation collecting the funds, to return the money. "I made it known that it would greatly disappoint JP's admirers if the cheque were accepted... We simultaneously requested JP to return Indira Gandhi's cheque. It was returned purely on our intervention. It was a fact that money was not coming through in India because people were scared of the government," recalls Anand Kumar, a member of the IFD, adding that his organisation vowed to collect the deficit amount. In response, the IFD launched a global appeal to raise ₹ 5 lakh—about USD 65,000 at the time—for the purchase and maintenance of a portable dialysis machine for Narayan, and successfully collected the amount. A letter by JP, dated June 11, 1976, was produced in the book quoting "technical points" of his rejecting the donation made by Gandhi -- including that only small contributions were acceptable. "...I had given my consent without knowing that the money would be from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. I took it for granted that it would be from your personal account , though a little thought on my part should have shown that it was not possible for you to contribute personally such a large amount. Be that as it may, the position is that before the contribution from your Fund was received, more than three lakh rupees had already been collected from the public in response to the appeal. "I do fervently hope that you will not misunderstand me and think me ungrateful and discourteous. There is no discourtesy meant at all and I am grateful for the concern shown by you for my health," reads the letter. "The Conscience Network", to be officially released on Wednesday -- marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency -- offers an "untold story of the Indian diaspora in the US during this era, spotlighting their burgeoning influence and the personal connections that spurred international efforts to counteract the authoritarian regime". Published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI) and priced at ₹ 1,299 is available for purchase across online and offline stores. On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi announced the imposition of the Emergency in a broadcast on All India Radio, shortly after the Supreme Court granted a conditional stay to an Allahabad High Court verdict declaring her election to the Lok Sabha null and void. It was lifted on March 21, 1977
