Srinagar, Jun 24 (JKNS): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur on Wednesday termed the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 as the “murder of the Constitution” and the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history, alleging that democratic institutions, civil liberties and constitutional rights were systematically dismantled during the 21-month period.
As per news agency JKNS, Thakur termed the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 as the “murder of the Constitution” and the darkest chapter in the democratic history of India, saying the period exposed the dangers of authoritarian politics and unchecked concentration of power.
Speaking on the occasion of “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas,” observed to mark the anniversary of the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, Thakur said the democratic foundations of the country were systematically dismantled to protect the political interests of the Congress leadership after the Allahabad High Court invalidated Indira Gandhi’s election to the Lok Sabha.
“Instead of respecting the verdict of the judiciary and upholding democratic principles, the Congress government imposed Emergency and suspended the constitutional and democratic rights of citizens,” Thakur said.
He said the 21-month-long Emergency witnessed an unprecedented assault on civil liberties, democratic institutions and freedom of expression. Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the Constitution were suspended, leaving citizens without legal protection against arbitrary arrests and suppression.
Thousands of political workers, journalists, social activists and opposition leaders were imprisoned without trial under draconian laws such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), he said.
“Veteran leaders including Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and Morarji Desai were jailed merely for opposing the Congress government. The nation was turned into a prison where dissent was treated as a crime,” Thakur added.
The BJP spokesperson also accused the Congress regime of crushing press freedom during the Emergency through ruthless censorship.
“Newspapers were forced to seek prior approval before publication. Independent journalism was throttled and media institutions were reduced to government propaganda machinery. Journalists who resisted censorship faced intimidation and imprisonment,” he said.
Thakur further criticised the controversial sterilisation campaign carried out during the Emergency, alleging that poor and vulnerable sections were subjected to coercive population-control measures in violation of human dignity and constitutional rights.
He said several constitutional amendments introduced during the period weakened democratic institutions and attempted to place the government above judicial scrutiny.
“The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, often called the Mini Constitution, sought to curtail the powers of the judiciary and disturb the balance envisioned by the framers of the Constitution,” he said.
Thakur said those who today claim to defend the Constitution must first acknowledge the “grave injustices” committed during the Emergency.
“The people of India defeated authoritarianism in the historic 1977 elections and restored democracy through the power of the ballot,” he said.
Paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, Thakur said the observance of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas serves as a reminder that constitutional freedoms, democratic institutions and civil liberties must always be protected.
“No individual or political party can ever be allowed to place itself above the Constitution and the will of the people,” he added. (JKNS)