PM Modi’s Plea: Share Experiences of Emergency Era on Social Media

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens who lived through the Emergency period in India between 1975 and 1977 to share their experiences on social media.

This appeal comes as his own experiences during that time have been compiled into a book titled “The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader. “

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The Prime Minister on Wednesday (June 25), marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, said that no Indian will ever forget how the spirit of the Constitution was violated and the voice of Parliament muzzled. He called it ”one of the darkest chapters” in India’s democratic history.

In a series of posts on handle X, he said: “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished, and several political leaders, social workers, students, and ordinary citizens were jailed. It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest. “

“The Emergency Diaries chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time,” PM Modi said.

He expressed his gratitude to Bluekraft Digital Foundation for curating these experiences into a book, which offers a rare glimpse into his formative years as a young RSS Pracharak fighting against the Emergency.

The book highlights PM Modi’s role in distributing banned literature, organising underground meetings, and sustaining public morale during the Emergency.

It presents PM Modi as part of a covert network resisting the regime, showcasing his commitment to restoring democracy. The book is a tribute to those who refused to be silenced during the Emergency, offering insights into the early trials that shaped PM Modi’s leadership.

By sharing their stories on social media, citizens can help create awareness among the youth about this significant period in Indian history. PM Modi’s appeal aims to preserve the collective memory of the Emergency era and its impact on India’s democracy.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda also criticised the Congress party on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, saying the party still operates with a dictatorial mindset. “On the midnight of June 25, 1975, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency on India under the pretext of ‘internal unrest,’ thereby murdering the country’s Constitution. Even 50 years later, Congress continues with the same mindset, its intentions still as dictatorial as ever,” Nadda said in a post on handle X.

Nadda’s comments come as Prime Minister Modi observed the day as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day), marking the dark chapter in India’s democratic history. “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency.

The Emergency, imposed by Indira Gandhi, lasted 21 months, suspending civil liberties, curtailing press freedom, and jailing opposition leaders and dissidents. BJP leaders condemned the Congress for its role in imposing the Emergency and accused it of still having a dictatorial mindset.

Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Emergency is a lesson for future generations.

Addressing the “50 Years of Emergency” programme in New Delhi on Tuesday, the Home Minister emphasised the importance of remembering the “dark chapter in India’s democratic history.” Shah said, “Emergency is not a result of circumstances and compulsion but is a product of dictatorial mentality and hunger for power.”

He highlighted the significance of commemorating ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day) on June 25, saying it serves as a reminder of the consequences of dictatorial governance. “The foundation of India’s democracy is so deep that if any dictator tries to shake this foundation, he will achieve nothing except ruining his future,” he added.

The Home Minister criticised the Congress for its role in imposing the Emergency, stating, “Today those who lament for the Constitution belong to that party which instead of becoming the protector of democracy, worked to become the destroyer of democracy.”

Shah also emphasised the importance of protecting the Constitution and democracy, saying, “The people of India are democratic-minded by nature. We are people who respect different ideas, different ideologies, and different opinions. This is our culture of thousands of years, that’s why we consider India the mother of democracy.”