Cong must apologise for Emergency, says Himanta at mock parliament
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Guwahati: CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
on Wednesday participated in a mock parliament session organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and BJP Mahila Morcha in Guwahati, commemorating the anniversary of the Emergency imposed in India on June 25, 1975.
He said the party responsible should apologise to the nation for undermining its democratic values and should pledge that such an event would never be repeated in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said it is imperative for the new generation of India to commemorate the Emergency every year to ensure that such events are never repeated. He emphasised that it is the responsibility of the youth to understand and reflect upon the widespread atrocities committed during the 21 months of the Emergency.
Referring to the proclamation of Emergency without cabinet approval, Sarma said it inflicted a severe blow to the nation's conscience. He further pointed out that the Supreme Court's judgement during the Emergency allowed even the suspension of Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, thereby enabling the govt to arrest and detain people without judicial oversight and absolving the state of accountability even in cases of custodial deaths.
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The CM highlighted that the Shah Commission Report and various historical documents related to that period are now publicly accessible and should be studied by the younger generation.
He also stated that history demonstrates how, in times of chaos and oppression, conscientious groups and individuals have emerged in response. Citing the Navnirman Andolan in Gujarat as a significant movement against Indira Gandhi's regime, he said that it eventually expanded into a nationwide movement under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan.
He further acknowledged leaders such as Morarji Desai, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, George Fernandes, and Nanaji Deshmukh, who resisted the Emergency, endured imprisonment, and ultimately compelled Indira Gandhi to withdraw the Emergency.
Sarma said unlike other instances in history where perpetrators expressed regret such as the British over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre or US presidents visiting Hiroshima to acknowledge the atomic bombings, "Congress party has never issued an apology for the Emergency."
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