Guwahati: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday termed the 1975 emergency as a ”dark chapter” in the nation’s history.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote, ” The declaration of emergency in India 47 years ago is such a dark chapter in this nation’s history that it can never be forgotten.
आज से ४७ साल पहले भारत में आपातकाल का लागू होना, इस देश के इतिहास का ऐसा काला अध्याय है, जिसे कभी भूला नहीं जा सकता।
आज के दिन सभी भारतवासियों को लोकतंत्र की रक्षा के प्रति न केवल स्वयं को समर्पित करना चाहिए बल्कि संविधान और संस्थाओं की गरिमा बनाए रखने का भी संकल्प लेना चाहिए।
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 25, 2022
On this day, all Indians should commit to uphold the dignity of the constitution and the institutions as well as to devote themselves to the protection of democracy.
It’s interesting to note that since 2014, the term “emergency” has grown widespread in Indian politics. Children are now familiar with these two words because they are frequently discussed on various occasions.
A state of emergency was established throughout the nation for a duration of 21 months exactly 47 years ago today, on June 25, 1975. Congress leader Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country at that time.
According to media reports, then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had proclaimed the declaration of an emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution at Indira Gandhi’s request. However, it was branded as divisive and undemocratic.
After the announcement of its implementation, Jayaprakash Narayan who is also known as JP politically opposed Indira Gandhi and the Emergency and termed it a dark chapter in India’s democratic history.
According to historians and media reports, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi polarised politics and power in India between 1967 and 1971 with the assistance of a majority in Parliament.
According to a number of reports, the government’s entire power structure was centralised inside the Prime Minister’s Secretariat from which all decisions were made.
However, the Emergency is considered to be one of the most controversial periods of independent India’s history.