Modi on 43 years of Emergency: 'Not only people but also ideas were held hostage'

''Writing, debating, deliberating, questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of. No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution'', tweets Modi

PM Narendra Modi (Image: PTI/File)

New Delhi: As the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the year 1975 to 1977 completed its 43^rd anniversary on Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi flayed Congress party indirectly and termed it as a dark period. On Tuesday morning PM Modi took to Twitter to opine about it. He lauded those who showed resistance towards the Emergency. “I salute the courage of all those great women and men who steadfastly resisted the Emergency, which was imposed 43 years ago. Their struggles ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties” he tweeted. His next tweet recalls the horrors of the phase as he writes, “India remembers the Emergency as a dark period during which every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics.” Further, upholding the democratic values and freedom of expression he tweeted: “Let us always work to make our democratic ethos stronger. Writing, debating, deliberating, questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of. No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution.”

I salute the courage of all those great women and men who steadfastly resisted the Emergency, which was imposed 43 years ago. Their struggles ensured people power prevailed over authoritarianism and the stifling of civil liberties.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2018

India remembers the Emergency as a dark period during which every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2018

Let us always work to make our democratic ethos stronger. Writing, debating, deliberating, questioning are vital aspects of our democracy which we are proud of. No force can ever trample the basic tenets of our Constitution.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2018

Modi’s Cabinet Minsiter Arun Jaitley launched an attack on Congress in his post on Monday where he likened the erstwhile PM Indira Gandhi to Hitler. Drawing a parallel between German dictator Adolf Hitler and Indira Gandhi, Jaitley said both turned democracy into dictatorship and wondered if Gandhi's decision was inspired by the Nazi Germany. Prime Minister shared Jaitley’s posts on Twitter, adding , “Shri Jaitley writes about the dark days of the Emergency, the trampling of personal liberties, excesses committed and how the Emergency was a direct attack on our Constitutional ideals.

Shri @arunjaitley writes about the dark days of the Emergency, the trampling of personal liberties, excesses committed and how the Emergency was a direct attack on our Constitutional ideals. Do read his blogs.

Part 1-https://t.co/0PPmNlLbc5 Part 2-https://t.co/50clvN4WxJ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2018

BJP president Amit Shah said the Congress had "murdered" democracy for its political interests merely to remain in power as it reduced the Supreme Court to a mute spectator, made Parliament passive and silenced the media. "It was a black day in Indian democracy," Shah said. BJP celebrates Emergency anniversary as black day in the history of Democracy. Emergency was officially issued by the then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution because of the prevailing "internal disturbance". It was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977. The order  gave PM Indira Gandhi the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed.