On the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a sharp critique of the Congress Party, describing the 1975 Emergency as “one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history.”
Commemorating the day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day), the Prime Minister condemned the suppression of democratic values and constitutional rights during the 21-month period under the then Congress government led by Indira Gandhi.
“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,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
In a strongly worded statement, the Prime Minister 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.”
He further stated, “No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament was 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.”
Paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, Modi said, “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.” He added that the collective struggle ultimately compelled the then Congress government to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, “which they badly lost.”
Reaffirming his government’s dedication to democratic principles, the Prime Minister concluded, “We remain committed to strengthening the principles enshrined 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.”
Echoing the sentiment, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also marked the occasion with a reflection on the historical impact of the Emergency. “On Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, we recall a painful chapter of independent India’s history, when institutions were undermined, rights were suspended and accountability was set aside. It also remains a powerful reminder of our collective duty to safeguard constitutional values and uphold the resilience of Indian democracy,” he posted on X.
In a separate development, Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level meeting of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) Society in New Delhi on Monday, during which he directed officials to compile and preserve all legal records pertaining to the Emergency period.
The Prime Minister proposed the creation of a comprehensive national database of all museums in the country and suggested that a compilation of legal cases and historical records relating to the Emergency be curated and archived, in light of the 50-year commemoration.
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