Prime Minister Narendra Modi slams Congress on 50 years of Emergency

New Delhi (India) June 25: PM Narendra Modi stated that no Indian would ever forget how the voice of Parliament was silenced and attempts were made to control the courts on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which the Centre has chosen to observe as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.

Modi posted, "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 placed democracy under arrest!" on social media platform X.

Modi criticised the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution which was passed during the Emergency period. He claimed that it was a perfect example of the "shenanigans" committed by the Congress to impose the emergency. The 43rd and 44th amendments, which were largely overturned by the subsequent Janta Party government in 1977 and 1978, made major changes to the constitution.

He said, "No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled and attempts were made to control the courts. The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted."

According to the Prime Minister, no Indian will ever forget how "our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled, and attempts were made to control the courts."

He praised the efforts of those who resisted the Emergency and claimed that their combined efforts forced the Congress government of the time to call for new elections and restore democracy, which they lost miserably.

He said, "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" 

Indira Gandhi lost the 1977 election as a result of the backlash against the Emergency especially in northern regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

During the nearly two-year Emergency, which was imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, from June 1975 to March 1977, civil liberties were suspended and opposition leaders and press freedom were brutally crushed.

It happened as a result of the Allahabad High Court declaring Gandhi's election from Raebareli invalid and widespread demonstrations against Congress governments in a number of states.

Aadrika Tayal