‘Democracy Was Arrested’: PM Modi Slams Congress on 50 Years of Emergency, Calls for National Resolve

New Delhi: On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp critique of the Congress party, calling the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 a “dark chapter” in India’s democracy. He emphasized that the nation will never forget the day democracy was “placed under arrest.”

In a series of impactful posts on social media platform X, PM Modi said, “No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of the Constitution was violated. The values enshrined in the Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights suspended, press freedom extinguished and a large number of political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens jailed.”

Referring to the controversial 42nd Amendment brought in by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government, Modi said it was an example of “constitutional manipulation” that undermined the democratic foundations of the country. He credited the subsequent Janata Party government for restoring democratic order through the 43rd and 44th amendments.

“It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest,” Modi declared.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to thousands who fought fearlessly to restore democratic values. “I salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency — people from all walks of life, different ideologies, united to defend the democratic fabric of India,” he said. “Their struggle forced the Congress government to restore democracy and eventually call fresh elections, which they badly lost.”

Modi also underlined that the Emergency particularly victimized the poor, the marginalized, and the downtrodden. “Even their dignity was insulted,” he said, adding that his government is committed to building a “Viksit Bharat” — a developed India that respects constitutional values and empowers the weakest sections of society.

“We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat,” he added.

In 2024, the Modi government designated June 25 as “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” — a day to remember the constitutional breakdown during the Emergency.

The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, citing internal disturbances. It lasted until March 21, 1977. Following the lifting of Emergency, the Congress suffered a historic defeat, paving the way for India’s first non-Congress government under the Janata Party — a coalition that included the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the forerunner of today’s BJP.