Emergency was not a political event but a direct betrayal of the Indian Constitution, says Pawan Kalyan
Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan said that India marked the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975 — a period widely regarded as one of the darkest chapters in the country's democratic history. Across the country, political leaders, civil society groups, and citizens observed ''Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' to remember the suspension of Constitutional rights and to pay tribute to those who resisted the authoritarian crackdown.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said declaring that the Emergency was not merely a political event but a direct betrayal of the Indian Constitution, several leaders recalled how civil liberties were trampled upon, the press was muzzled, and fundamental rights were suspended under the then Congress regime led by Indira Gandhi.
Prominent Opposition leaders of the time — including Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, George Fernandes, and Morarji Desai — were imprisoned for voicing dissent and defending democracy.
As we mark 50 years of this constitutional betrayal, we observe 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' to remember the sacrifices of those who stood fearlessly against dictatorship and upheld the dignity of our democracy.
'Let us remember the sacrifices made by the Leader who stood against oppression, as well as the anguish of millions whose voices were silenced. Even today, we must guard against any attempt to compromise our Constitution in the name of politics,' he added.
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Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Exhibition marks ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'
New Delhi: From photos of demolition drives, 'nasbandi (sterilisaiton)' camps, news reports, prison diaries to protests, the one-day exhibition to mark 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' showcased the Emergency period at the Thyagaraja stadium here on Wednesday. Inaugurated by home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, the exhibition brought together by the ministry of culture not only put out the story of the Emergency era but India's struggle to fight through and come out of that period. The measures being taken by the current govt to strengthen democracy and Constitution were also part of the exhibition. A highlight of the exhibition was a curation of 15 paintings put together by artists associated with the Lalit Kala Academy. The artists, who came from different parts of the country, used art and colours to depict how the attack on fundamental rights played out after June 25, 1975, and at the same time the resilience of people who fought through it to reclaim their voice. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi A few steps away from a display showing the gazette notification of the proclamation of Emergency, one came across a painting showing a pen piercing through the heart of the Constitution caught in chains, with black blood dripping. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Labelled 'Kaala Panna (dark chapter)', the background of the painting shows people behind bars. An LED screen also displayed pictures from demolitions in Delhi during that phase and 'nasbandi' camps. Further on one came across a painting titled 'The Silenced Uprising' where a woman's lips are sewed with a red thread and the background is dark while she adorns the colour red and her eyes are bright reflecting the unrest brewing in the hearts of those who felt the impact of the Emergency and its fallout. Paintings similarly themed were displayed on the wall amid photos of protests held by political leaders. These also depicted the curbs on press freedom with one showing a microphone caged as a metaphor for how the Emergency period silenced not just the media but all those who tried to question those in power and their actions. The special exhibition on Indian Democracy was divided into three curated sections. Bharat-Mother of Democracy: Showcasing India's ancient and participative democratic traditions; Dark Days of Democracy: Chronicling the events and consequences of the 1975 Emergency; and Strengthening Democracy in India: Featuring recent democratic reforms.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Assam: CM takes part in BJP's Mock Parliament to commemorate dark chapter of Emergency
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 25 (ANI): With the aim of commemorating the dark chapter of the Emergency period in India, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday took part in a Mock Parliament event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and BJP Mahila Morcha at the Bhogeswari Phukanani Indoor Stadium in Guwahati. The 21 months of Emergency are known for forced mass sterilisations, press censorship, suspension of constitutional rights and centralisation of power. Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma stated that 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 on 25 June 1975 without cabinet approval, he remarked that 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 government to arrest and detain individuals without judicial oversight and absolving the state of accountability even in cases of custodial deaths. The Chief Minister 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. Dr Sarma expressed hope that during this Mock Parliament, participants would reflect on the fact that the Emergency lacked both legal and moral justification. He also recalled that numerous individuals made significant sacrifices to end the Emergency and restore democracy in the country, with leaders from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh playing a vital role in countering Indira Gandhi's authoritarianism. Referring to a leader from that era who had sworn to protect the Constitution, the Chief Minister remarked that it was the same individual's family that subsequently imposed the Emergency. He noted that, 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, the Congress party has never issued an apology for the Emergency. He concluded by stating that the party responsible for the Emergency should apologise to the nation for undermining its democratic values and should pledge that such an event would never be repeated in the future. Assam State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party and MP Dilip Saikia, State President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Rakesh Das, State President of the BJP Mahila Morcha Swapna Bania, along with several party officials and other dignitaries, also took part in the Mock Parliament. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Emergency a warning against future dictatorship: Amit Shah
New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday addressed a gathering at the first-ever event organised to commemorate 25th June as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Killing Day), pointing out that the Emergency was imposed on the day. Terming the imposition of Emergency in India for 21 months from 1975 to 1977, the Home Minister said, 'Bad incidents usually should be forgotten in life. And it is correct, but when it relates to social life and national life, then bad incidents should be remembered forever, so that the youth and teenagers of the country are cultured, organised, ready to defend, and ensure that such bad incidents are never repeated again.' Shah said with this thought in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to commemorate June 25 of every year as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' and the Union Home Ministry issued a notification related to it. 'The manner in which the country was reduced to a prison during the Emergency, the soul of the country made dumb, the courts made deaf and pens of the writers were made to fall silent, keeping those things in mind and after giving it a thought, it was decided to commemorate today as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. This will bring awareness in the younger generations about the incidents that happened during the Emergency,' Shah said. He further said, 'Remembering the Emergency is not just knowing history, but it is a warning.' Union Home Minister said that on the night of June 24, 1975, the Emergency was imposed, and an ordinance was promulgated to implement a dictatorial mindset. 'The Constitution, which was crafted after deliberation and discussion involving 2,66,000 words by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and other framers, was effectively nullified, and the then Prime Minister destroyed the spirit of the entire constitution by just saying that - The President has declared emergency. The essence of the Constitution was destroyed with just one sentence,' said the Home Minister. He said that two significant events took place on June 12, 1975: the Allahabad High Court invalidated the election of the Prime Minister and barred her from contesting elections for six years. 'A state of shock spread across the country, though the Supreme Court later granted a stay on the order. Simultaneously, on June 12, the Janata Morcha experiment succeeded in Gujarat, bringing an end to the rule of the opposition party and establishing the Janata Party government. Alarmed by these developments, the Emergency was imposed on June 25.' Shah said that while the reason given was that national security was under threat, the whole world now knows that it was the Prime Minister's position of power that was truly under threat. Shah said that Jayaprakash Narayan's slogan of 'Sampoorna Kranti' had revolutionised the entire nation. 'The movement, which began in Gujarat, had reached Bihar. The government in Gujarat fell, elections were held, and the then ruling party was voted out of power. Subsequently, all opposition parties came together to form the Janata Party government, which served as a major warning for the then Prime Minister,' he said. Union Home Minister also said that by imposing the Emergency, the courts that granted stay were silenced, the newspapers were silenced, and even All India Radio was silenced. 'Around 1,10,000 social and political activists were thrown into prison cells. A Cabinet meeting was called at 4 am without any circulated agenda, and the Emergency was proclaimed. After thoroughly investigating the events during the Emergency, the Shah Commission stated that the acts of detention, forced sterilization, and demolitions had created an atmosphere of fear across the country that had no parallel elsewhere,' said Shah. 'Newspaper offices were shut down, 253 journalists were arrested, 29 foreign journalists were expelled from the country, and several newspapers protested the Emergency by leaving their editorial columns blank--most notably, The Indian Express and Jansatta. Their electricity supply was cut off, parliamentary proceedings were censored, the judiciary was effectively brought under control, and democratic rights were completely suppressed throughout the country,' Shah reminded. The Minister said that judges in the judiciary who delivered verdicts against the government were prevented from becoming Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 'Singer Kishore Kumar and actor Manoj Kumar's films were banned. Actor Dev Anand was barred from appearing on Doordarshan, and the films Aandhi and Kissa Kursi Ka were also banned,' he said. The Home Minister said that in the election held after the Emergency, for the first time in the country, a non-Congress government was formed with an absolute majority. 'It is important to remember that day so that no one in the future can impose a dictatorial mindset on the Constitution of this country,' Shah said. He said that during the Emergency, a mindset had developed that the party was bigger than the nation, the family was bigger than the party, the individual was bigger than the family, and power was more important than national interest. In contrast, today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Home Minister said the idea of 'Nation First' resonates deeply in the hearts of the people. 'This transformation has been made possible due to the struggle of thousands of warriors of democracy who spent 19 months in jail. Today, under PM Modi's leadership, 1.4 billion Indians are striving with commitment to make India number one in every field globally by the year 2047, and are moving forward with determination toward that goal,' added Shah. (ANI)
