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No Indian will ever forget manner in which spirit of Constitution was violated: PM Modi on Emergency

No Indian will ever forget manner in which spirit of Constitution was violated: PM Modi on Emergency

The Hindu18 hours ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) said no Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of the Constitution was violated and the Parliament was muzzled.
In a series of posts on X on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Mr. Modi said it was one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history.
'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!' Mr. Modi said.
The values enshrined in the Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights suspended, press freedom extinguished and a large number of political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens jailed, he noted.
The 42nd Amendment, which made extensive changes to the Constitution and was reversed by the Janata Party government, is a prime example of the shenanigans of the Congress government that imposed Emergency, he said.
He added that the poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted.' 'We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat. May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,' Mr. Modi said.
He also called for everyone to salute every person who fought against Emergency. 'People from all walks of life and diverse ideologies worked to protect democracy,' he said.
The Prime Minister also said when the Emergency was imposed, he was a young RSS pracharak and the anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for him.
When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am… https://t.co/nLY4Vb30Pu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak, and the anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me, Mr. Modi said in a post on X.
'It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement,' Mr. Modi further said.

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‘Dressed as a sadhu, a Sardar, a hippie…': Shah on Modi's 19 months underground during Emergency
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‘Dressed as a sadhu, a Sardar, a hippie…': Shah on Modi's 19 months underground during Emergency

Shah said the book also captures the role of the RSS, the Jan Sangh, and the difficulties faced during Satyagraha and public mobilisation during that period. Speaking at the launch of The Emergency Diaries–Years that Forged a Leader, Shah said: 'This book contains the full story… of how Narendra Modi, at the age of 24–25, led the struggle in Gujarat. He went underground for 19 months during Emergency, which was imposed under Indira Gandhi's dictatorship. He helped MISA detainees, distributed underground newspapers at markets, intersections, among students and women.' New Delhi: He dressed as a sadhu, a Sardar, a hippie, an incense stick seller, even a newspaper vendor to stay underground. That's how Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday described Narendra Modi's time during Emergency, saying the current Prime Minister, then a 25-year-old RSS pracharak, spent 19 months underground helping detainees and distributing banned publications. 'Along with this, the book describes the role of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Jan Sangh, the struggle of the Lok Sangharsh Samiti, the challenges of Satyagraha and public awakening. Narendra Modiji, during that time, while underground, worked as a sadhu, sometimes a Sardar, sometimes a hippie, sometimes an agarbatti seller, or a newspaper delivery vendor—he played all these roles,' he said. He added: 'And today, see how destiny delivers justice. The same young man who, at the age of 25, opposed the dictatorial mindset of Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi—going door to door, village to village, city to city—is today the person who, in 2014, uprooted the very dynastic politics for which Emergency was imposed.' Shah appealed to youth to read the book: 'I especially appeal to the youth of this country—read this book at least once. A young man of your own age, in his early years, resisted dictatorship. That same young man is today's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is strengthening the roots of democracy in this country.' The book, divided into five chapters, explores censorship of the press during the Emergency, the government's use of state power, the resistance put up by the RSS and Jan Sangh, personal stories of those imprisoned or targeted, and the larger democratic transition from authoritarianism to mass participation. Modi's own experience as a young underground organiser is presented as a key thread through this narrative. Shah said Prime Minister Modi had decided 25 June should be commemorated as Constitution Betrayal Day, calling the Emergency 'an attack on the nation's soul'. The BJP marks this day each year as a black chapter in India's democratic history. Shah said the phrase 'Constitution Betrayal' was debated internally as it seemed harsh, but they concluded that nothing less could describe how censorship, mass arrests, and suppression unfolded in 1975. The Union Minister recounted the series of events leading up to the Emergency, including the Allahabad High Court verdict invalidating Indira Gandhi's election and the Congress loss in Gujarat, saying these political shocks prompted the clampdown. He argued that the JP movement gave voice to rising discontent and turned slogans like 'Indira is India' into 'Indira against India'. Listing the Emergency's excesses, Shah said censorship extended to artists and institutions. 'To the youth sitting here, I want to ask—have you ever listened to a duet song? In it, both the male and female voices—can they be of the same singer? That's what happened during Emergency. Kishore Kumar's voice was banned. Manoj Kumar's films were banned. Dev Anand was barred from Doordarshan. The film Aandhi and Kissa Kursi Ka were also banned. Friends, after murdering the Constitution, the Indian Constitution was silenced.' He also highlighted judicial interference, where judges critical of the government were sidelined, and three senior judges were superseded. He referred to the Shah Commission's findings, saying they documented how forced sterilisation, mass detentions, and demolitions created a climate of fear 'with no parallel in the world'. Shah contrasted that period with what he called the current ethos of governance under Modi. He said while Emergency-era politics placed individual and dynastic interests above the nation, the Modi era had ushered in a mindset of 'India First'. He said India was now on a path to becoming a global leader by 2047—a transformation rooted in the sacrifices made by those who resisted Emergency rule. Calling for collective memory and vigilance, he urged that India's youth be educated about the Emergency so that such a chapter is never repeated. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Emergency showed extent of executive power. 50 years on, it's still embedded in Constitution

Shiv Sena (UBT) defends Emergency, calls it ‘constitutionally valid'
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The Shiv Sena (UBT) has defended the Emergency, calling it constitutional and acknowledged that the undivided Shiv Sena Chief, Bal Thackeray, had openly supported the Emergency. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) that according to the Indian Constitution, if there is an internal security threat, the Prime Minister can impose an Emergency. Mr. Raut's statement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the Emergency Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. In a scathing attack, Mr. Raut remarked, 'BJP can celebrate and politicise anything.' 'How can it be celebrated as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas when the Constitution enables the Prime Minister, with the approval of the president, to impose an Emergency if the country is facing any threat?' Mr. Raut called 11 years of Mr. Modi's administration 'an unannounced emergency' as during this time, the police were found using bulldozers to raze poor people's homes based on their religion and caste, nearly every day. Reflecting on the similarities, Mr. Raut said, 'Indiraji called BJP leaders Atalji and Advanji in jail regularly when they were detained, while the BJP got the sitting Chief Minister arrested. So, celebrate these 11 years as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.' Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in India on June 25, 1975, making it 50 years since that day. Constitutional sanction Mr. Raut defended Ms. Gandhi, saying that she imposed an Emergency, staying within the confines of the Constitution. 'She confronted people and cited reasons for imposing the Emergency. After 22 months, she also fought in the election. Emergency has constitutional recognition. She could have won the election by wrong means, but she accepted her defeat, which makes her chowkidar (protector) of democracy,' he adds. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) dismissed the claims of Bal Thackeray backing the Emergency. Mr. Shinde called it a 'half-truth' and referred to an interview by Bal Thackeray, wherein he stated, 'I condemn the decision of Emergency if it was to save the Prime Ministership.' Mr Shinde said, 'Bal Thackeray never straightforwardly backed the Emergency, and he said several times, 'I am with the Emergency, only it was taken for the country's welfare. Under the name of Emergency, we won't accept dictatorship'.' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also wrote an article criticising the Emergency and recalled bitter memories of the period. He condemned the Congress party's actions as a destruction of the Constitution, constitutional institutions, and democracy. 'It's been 50 years since the Congress party wrote this dark chapter in history,' he wrote.

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1 2 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The anime RPG everyone's talking about is finally free! Nikke: Goddess Of Victory Play Now Undo 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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