Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the “50 Years of Emergency” programme organized by the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Trust in New Delhi. The event commemorated the imposition of Emergency in 1975 and served as a reminder of the importance of protecting democratic values in India.
Shri Shah highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to commemorate June 25 every year as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day) to ensure that the nation does not forget the consequences of dictatorship. He emphasized that the Emergency was not due to external threats, but a result of the then ruling party’s hunger for power.
Calling the Emergency the “Anyayakaal” (era of injustice), Shri Shah stated that during this time, freedom of expression, political opposition, and even students and social workers were suppressed. He described how the Constitution was amended to such an extent that it was referred to as a ‘mini Constitution’.
He also noted that more than one crore sterilizations were carried out, voices like that of singer Kishore Kumar were silenced, and around 1.1 lakh political opponents were jailed. Shri Shah remarked that Indian democracy is deeply rooted and resilient, and any attempt to impose dictatorship again will only result in failure.
He urged the youth to read the Shah Commission Report to understand the depth of the constitutional violations that took place during the Emergency and to be vigilant against future threats to democracy.
Shri Shah concluded by reminding the public that protecting the Constitution is a collective responsibility and that the memory of the Emergency should serve as a deterrent against any dictatorial ambitions in the future.
Source: PIB
