“Placed Democracy Under Arrest”: PM Modi’s Stark Rebuke of Congress on 50 Years of Emergency

“Placed Democracy Under Arrest”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for the 1975 Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister 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. 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!" said PM Modi in a post on X.

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Modi also attacked the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution passed during the Emergency period, calling it a prime example of the Congress's ‘shenanigans’ that imposed the emergency. The amendment made extensive changes to the constitution and was partially reversed by the subsequent Janta Party government in 1977 and 1978 through the 43rd and 44th amendments.

He added that the poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted."

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"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 said.

The clampdown followed widespread protests against Congress rule and the Allahabad High Court ruling that Gandhi's election from Raebareli was void.

PM Modi flagged the 42nd Constitutional Amendment of 1976, which introduced sweeping changes to centralise power and limit judicial oversight.

The Narendra Modi government announced last year that the Emergency anniversary would be commemorated as "Samvidhan Hatya Diwas."

The Indira Gandhi government declared an emergency on June 25, 1975, citing ‘internal disturbances’. It continued until March 21, 1977, after which fresh elections were called. Gandhi and the Congress lost their first general election after the Emergency and were replaced by the Janata Party coalition, which also contained the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the predecessor to the current BJP.

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