Senior BJP leader and party’s National Council Member Sanjay Tandon, while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday ahead of June 25, being observed as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’, said that the Emergency imposed by the Congress government under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi remains one of the darkest and most controversial chapters in India’s democratic journey.
Tandon said, “June 25 – ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ – is a grim reminder of Congress’s subversion of the constitution and civil liberties. The youth must know the truth about the Congress Party’s authoritarian character and the emergency it imposed in 1975.”
He further said that the Congress leadership’s decision to impose the Emergency in 1975 severely weakened democratic institutions, curtailed civil liberties and placed unprecedented pressure on the Constitution and the rule of law. “It is important, particularly for the younger generation, to understand what transpired 51 years ago, why the Congress government chose the path of Emergency, and how democratic institutions came under unprecedented pressure. Today’s youth deserve to know the truth about non-democratic and authoritarian character of the Congress and how it subverted India’s democratic fabric,” he added.
Referring to the political developments of 1975, Tandon noted that on June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court set aside the election of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He said in a healthy democracy, such a verdict would ordinarily lead to resignation and an appeal before the Supreme Court. Instead, the Congress government led by Indira Gandhi attempted to alter constitutional provisions even before the judicial process had run its full course.
“Efforts were made by Indira Gandhi and the Congress leadership to place the elections of the Prime Minister, President, Vice-President and Speaker of the Lok Sabha beyond judicial scrutiny. These developments raised serious questions about the sanctity of democratic institutions and constitutional accountability,” Tandon said.
He further stated that following developments in the Supreme Court on June 24, the Emergency was declared across the country on June 25, 1975, under Article 352 of the Constitution.
Tandon pointed out that the Emergency was imposed at a time when the country was witnessing widespread public movements against corruption and misgovernance, including the mass movement led by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, which had drawn the participation of large numbers of citizens and youth from across the country. “Instead of responding democratically to public concerns and growing opposition, the Congress government chose to suppress dissent and impose an Emergency on the nation,” he said.
Describing the impact of the Emergency, Tandon said press freedom suffered severe restrictions as censorship was imposed on newspapers and media organisations. Political opponents from across parties, social activists and dissenting voices were arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and detained for prolonged periods. “The Congress regime jailed thousands of Opposition leaders, activists and ordinary citizens under MISA. The Emergency witnessed curbs on freedom of expression, pressure on the media and attempts that affected the independence of constitutional institutions. These developments remain a matter of serious concern in the history of Indian democracy,” he recalled.
Tandon also referred to the debates and controversies surrounding constitutional amendments, judicial functioning and certain population-control measures – particularly forced vasectomies undertaken during that period. “The Emergency demonstrated how the concentration of power in the hands of a Congress government led to the suspension of fundamental freedoms and the weakening of institutional checks and balances. It stands as a reminder of how fragile democratic institutions can become when political power is allowed to override constitutional principles,” he said.
He added that the nation must remember how the Congress party’s actions during the Emergency threatened democratic values, curtailed civil liberties and weakened institutional safeguards so that such an abuse of power is never repeated in independent India.
He urged the media to present the historical significance of the Emergency and its consequences before the public in an objective and factual manner, particularly for younger generations who did not witness that period and must understand the importance of protecting democracy and constitutional freedoms.