New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday marked the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency by calling it a “dark chapter” in Indian democracy and asserted that the country overcame it because “our nation never bows down to dictatorship.” He strongly criticized the Congress party for the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, stating that it was declared not due to any national threat, but to safeguard the power of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Speaking at a special program held at the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya to commemorate five decades since the Emergency, Shah remarked, “Today is the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. There may arise a question as to why something that happened 50 years ago is being discussed now. When 50 years of any national event are completed—good or bad—its memory tends to fade away in society. If the memory of an event like the Emergency, which shook our democracy, fades away, it is harmful to the nation.”
Highlighting the democratic spirit of India, Shah stated, “Today, we are the world’s largest democracy, and the reason we overcame a dark chapter like the Emergency is because our nation never bows down to dictatorship. The world has witnessed the birth of democracy on this soil—India is the mother of democracy.”
He recalled the post-Emergency elections that led to the fall of the Congress government and the formation of the first non-Congress government under Morarji Desai. “At that time, no one would have supported the Emergency except for the dictators and the small group that benefited from it. They had an illusion that no one could challenge them. But after the Emergency, when the first Lok Sabha elections were held, a non-Congress government came to power for the first time since independence,” Shah said.
Reflecting on the nature of the Emergency, Shah said, “It is difficult to define the Emergency in a single sentence. But if I had to, I would call it the conspiracy to convert a democratic nation’s multi-party system into a dictatorship.”
He emphasized the Modi government’s decision to observe June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day), to ensure future generations remember the consequences of authoritarian rule. “So many drastic changes were made during the Emergency that it came to be known as a ‘mini-Constitution’. From the Preamble to the Basic Structure, everything was altered. The judiciary became submissive, and democratic rights were suspended. The nation can never forget. That is why PM Modi decided to observe June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas—to ensure the country remembers how a nation suffers when its leaders turn into dictators.”
He further stressed that the protection of the Constitution is not solely the duty of the judiciary or Parliament, but the right and responsibility of every citizen. “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas should be observed collectively and consciously, so that the youth never forget how the Constitution was once silenced,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at opposition parties, Shah said, “Today, some people preach about the sanctity of the Constitution. But I want to ask—what party do you belong to? Remember that morning when Indira Gandhi announced the Emergency on All India Radio. Was Parliament consulted? Were opposition leaders and citizens taken into confidence?”
He added, “Those who talk about protecting democracy today—were you the ‘Rakshaks’ (protectors) of the Constitution back then, or its ‘Bhakshaks’ (destroyers)? The Emergency was declared not to protect the nation, but to protect Indira Gandhi’s power. At 4 am, an emergency cabinet meeting was called. Ministers like Babu Jagjivan Ram and Swaran Singh later said they were not consulted—they were merely informed.”
Shah concluded by asserting that the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, serves as a lasting reminder of the extent to which the Congress can go to retain power. (ANI)
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