Marking the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday, June 25, described it as one of the “darkest chapters” in India’s democratic history and a “prime example” of the Congress party’s authoritarian excesses.
Taking to the social media platform X, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on the then Congress-led government, calling the 21-month period “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” – the day the Constitution was, in his words, “murdered.”
“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,” PM Modi said in a series of posts. “The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted.”
He added, “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!”
The Emergency, imposed by then PM Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, suspended civil liberties, censored the press, and saw the arrest of thousands of political opponents, students, activists, and ordinary citizens. The proclamation was issued by then-President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing “internal disturbance” as the reason.
“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,” Modi further wrote on X.
PM Modi underscored that the Emergency was a grave constitutional breach, comparing it unfavorably to earlier emergencies declared during times of war with China (1962) and Pakistan (1971). The 1975 Emergency, notably, was declared during peacetime – triggered by growing political unrest and legal challenges to Indira Gandhi’s leadership following her 1975 election being set aside by the Allahabad High Court.
The Modi government has repeatedly invoked the Emergency to highlight what it calls Congress’s legacy of undermining democratic institutions. Wednesday’s remarks reinforce the BJP’s broader narrative in the run-up to various state and national elections.
