'Never Take Freedom For Granted': Jaishankar Slams Gandhi Family For Emergency
Speaking at the inaugural event of the Mock Parliament by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to mark 50 years of Emergency, Jaishankar said, 'All this happened because of one family. There's a movie titled 'Kissa Kursi Ka', and these three words aptly tell the reason behind the imposition of the Emergency. When a family is considered above the nation, things like the Emergency take place."
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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Rights of Indian fishermen given away during Emergency, says Jaishankar alluding to 1976 Katchatheevu pact
Effects of the Emergency (June 25, 1975 — March 21, 1977) can still be felt in Tamil Nadu and in India-Sri Lanka relations as the Government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not protect the interests of Indian fishermen to fish in the Palk Strait while concluding a pact with Sri Lanka during that period, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday (June 27, 2025), apparently alluding to the Katchatheevu pact of 1976. Speaking about the Emergency at an event here, Mr. Jaishankar recollected his personal experience from that era and said the Emergency proved that democracy and freedom were in the 'blood' of the Indian people. 'During the Emergency, big decisions used to be taken without discussion. These days, you know when our fishermen venture near Sri Lanka, there they are arrested. You know the reason? The reason is that during the Emergency, an agreement was signed with Sri Lanka in which the rights of our fishermen that they had earlier to fish in the waters near Sri Lanka, was something that we gave up. If the Emergency was not there and if we had a genuine Parliament at that time, I don't think such an agreement would have been approved by the Parliament,' said the External Affairs Minister, speaking in Hindi. Indian fishermen frequently face arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy for trespassing into Sri Lankan waters — they are often arrested near the northern coast of the island, well past Katchatheevu — and fishing using the bottom trawling method, that is banned in Sri Lanka. 'The consequence of that period can be felt even today in Tamil Nadu,' said Mr. Jaishankar. The issue was earlier raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on March 31 had blamed the Congress for 'callously' giving away the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. The External Affairs Minister said the Emergency caused setback to India's global image and senior diplomats at that time used to face difficulties in justifying the Emergency rule in India that had done away with democratic governance. 'Several lessons' 'In 1977 I joined Indian Foreign Service after clearing UPSC examination. We used to hear from senior diplomats of that time, how difficult it was to defend the Emergency in the world and how India was criticised because of the Emergency rule,' said Mr. Jaishankar, recollecting that the world perceived India as the largest and oldest democracy and it was difficult for Indian diplomats to defend the authoritarian rule of Emergency era before the world. He said the Emergency had several enduring lessons of that period asserting that: 'Never take freedom for granted. Democracy is in our blood and DNA.' The External Affairs Minister recollected how the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Students Union faced police crackdown for opposing the Emergency. 'The 30th Amendment stated that people cannot approach courts against the declaration of the Emergency. The 39th Amendment stated that people cannot go to court against the election of the Prime Minister and the 42nd Amendment stated that the Fundamental Rights of people would be diluted and the power of judiciary in the country would be reduced,' said Mr. Jaishankar, recollecting that during the Emergency, five Constitutional Amendments and 48 Ordinances were passed.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
50 years of Emergency: EAM Jaishankar blames 1974 deal for fishermen arrests by Sri Lanka; says consequences still visible in Tamil Nadu
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that the root of the ongoing issue of Sri Lanka arresting Indian fishermen lies in a controversial agreement made during the Emergency era, under which India gave up certain fishing rights. Speaking at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to mark the 50th anniversary of Emergency, Jaishankar said such a deal would not have gone through if Parliament had been functioning properly at the time. 'We hear about our fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka. The reason is that an agreement was entered into during Emergency under which the rights of the fishermen for fishing in some sea waters of Sri Lanka was abandoned,' Jaishankar said. The 1974 maritime agreement, signed under then the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government, ceded the uninhabited Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka. A follow-up agreement in 1976 barred Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen from entering each other's exclusive economic zones—restrictions that continue to affect fishing communities in Tamil Nadu. 'The consequences of this decision are still visible in Tamil Nadu,' the EAM noted. Criticising the Congress for bypassing democratic processes during the Emergency, Jaishankar said, 'Had a genuine Parliament functioned at the time, there would have been a debate and this decision would not be accepted.' He said many major decisions were taken without public or parliamentary scrutiny during that 21-month period, which began on June 25, 1975. Reflecting on the time, Jaishankar recalled police raids in Jawaharlal Nehru University hostels and shared how his family had links with anti-Emergency leaders such as George Fernandes. 'I heard from my seniors in the foreign service how difficult it was to defend India after the murder of the Constitution and democracy by the imposition of Emergency,' he said. In a pointed attack on the Congress leadership, Jaishankar said that an Emergency situation arises when the 'family' is kept ahead of the country. 'Some people keep the copy of Constitution in their pockets but have other intentions in their hearts,' PTI cited the external minister. Without naming Rahul Gandhi directly, he questioned the party's refusal to apologise for the Emergency, saying it was not just a political mistake but an assault on the people's way of life. The younger generation must learn how the Congress strangled the Constitution out of greed for power, he said, referring to the mock parliament conducted by the BJYM. He further added that empowering citizens is the key to preventing any similar situation in future. He also took a swipe at the opposition's repeated claims of an 'undeclared Emergency' under the current government. 'I want to clarify that this is not the time of an Emergency nor will there be one in the future. That is why we are all present here at this mock parliament today,' he said. During the Emergency, Jaishankar pointed out, five Constitutional amendments and 48 Ordinances were passed, one of which prevented Emergency provisions from being challenged in any court. Calling India's peaceful resistance during that time proof that 'democracy is in our DNA,' he said the public's rejection of Emergency through the ballot box eventually led to fresh elections and the restoration of democratic rule. He also touched on moments of unity, saying Operation Sindoor, where even opposition leaders joined efforts to bolster India's global position, reflected 'deep national pride' and stood as an antidote to the authoritarianism of the Emergency. "The events of 50 years ago should not just be viewed as history — they still live on in the minds of many. Therefore, we must remain cautious of those who still have no regret about the Emergency," he said.
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- India Gazette
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slams EAM Jaishankar's remarks on Emergency:
New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday criticised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the latter's remarks on the Emergency, saying that multiple times Congress party has repeatedly expressed regret for it such that an election was called by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi knowing well that she might be defeated. 'His predecessor, Pranab Mukherjee, regretted the issue of the imposition of Emergency in public in 2008. Once the Emergency was lifted, Indira Gandhi herself admitted that it was a mistake. On several occasions, Congress repeatedly expressed regrets, but now the ruling party is trying to tarnish Congress,' the Congress leader told ANI here. He said that all those things are known by the EAM; however, he is being subservient to the 'diktats' of the Centre to keep on continuing his ministerial tenure. 'Mr Jaishankar knows everything, but to continue his ministerial tenure, he needs to be subservient to the dictates of the present government... What was the role of RSS during the Independence movement, Quit India, partition, and after independence?' he said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also slammed the EAM, saying he should focus on dealing with the 'collapse of Indian diplomacy' rather than talk about the Emergency. 'EAM would be well advised to deal with the complete collapse of Indian diplomacy. Indian diplomacy has taken huge hits in the last couple of weeks. He should be worried about repairing the damage to Indian diplomacy rather than getting into the history of what happened 50 years ago,' the Congress leader told ANI. Earlier today, Jaishankar aimed at the Congress party, stating that one family's interests were placed above the nation, while he remembered the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. 'All this happened because of one family... There's a movie titled 'Kissa Kursi Ka', and these three words aptly tell the reason behind the imposition of the Emergency. When a family is considered above the nation, things like the Emergency take place,' Jaishankar said. The EAM was addressing the inaugural session of a mock parliament, which was organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). He recalled that during the Emergency, the opposition side of the parliament was empty as leaders were jailed. He stated that during that time he was a 20-year-old student at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He further said that the biggest lesson from the Emergency was to never take one's freedom for granted. (ANI)
