As India marks half a century since the declaration of the Emergency in 1975, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a period when the soul of the Constitution was “violated” and democratic institutions were silenced. Through multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister emphasised that this moment in history must never be forgotten.

The Prime Minister reflected on the repression faced during the Emergency, stating, “It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” He also pointed out the particularly harsh treatment of marginalised groups, saying, “The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted.”

The government, which officially began observing June 25 as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ in 2024, held nationwide programs to remember the sacrifices made by countless individuals during the 21-month Emergency that lasted until March 1977. The Prime Minister honored those who stood up against the authoritarian measures, stating, “People from all walks of life and diverse ideologies worked to protect democracy.”

PM Modi also used the occasion to discuss his own personal connection to the events. At the time, he was a young RSS pracharak involved in the underground movement resisting the Emergency. He recalled, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak, and the anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me.”

To commemorate the period, a book titled ‘The Emergency Diaries – Years That Forged a Leader’ was released, detailing Modi’s own experiences. The book, published by BlueKraft Digital Foundation, features a foreword by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. “I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement,” said Modi.

Modi also criticised the 42nd Constitutional Amendment passed during the Emergency, calling it a symbol of institutional overreach by the then government. “The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans,” he remarked, referring to how the Congress administration under Indira Gandhi attempted to centralize power and alter democratic norms.

The roots of the Emergency lay in a political crisis triggered by the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on June 12, 1975, which found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice and annulled her election to the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli. In response, late on June 25, then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed signed the Emergency proclamation. Over the next two years, civil liberties were curbed, press freedom was dismantled, and opposition leaders were jailed in large numbers.

Modi emphasised his government’s continued commitment to the democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution. “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,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Congress party launched a scathing rebuttal, alleging that Indian democracy is currently facing a different form of suppression. In a sharply worded statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of creating an “Undeclared Emergency@11,” referring to the BJP’s years in power. He cited examples of alleged repression, such as crackdowns on dissenters, hate speech proliferation, and the vilification of government critics. Protesters, including farmers, were branded “Khalistanis,” and supporters of caste census were dubbed “urban Naxals,” the party claimed.

Despite the political sparring, the day served as a reminder of the fragile nature of democracy and the responsibility of every generation to protect it. Modi closed his message by acknowledging the resilience of the Indian people. “It was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress Government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost.”