On the 48th anniversary of emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to bravehearts who resisted the period that put a blanket censor on media, rights and democracy in the year 1975 under then-PM Indira Gandhi's reign. Remembering the valour of the leaders of the era, PM Modi said that he pays tribute to all courageous people who worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. He said that the dark days of emergency remain an unforgettable period in India's history, totally opposite to the values the Indian Constitution celebrates.
"I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," the PM tweeted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah took on Congress and said that a family had imposed an emergency by taking away the rights of people and killing democracy on this day in 1975.
"...The Emergency imposed for its power-interest is a symbol of dictatorial mentality of the Congress and a never-ending stigma. In those difficult times, lakhs of people struggled to revive democracy after suffering many hardships. I heartily salute all those patriots," Shah said in a tweet.
Union Minister Smriti Irani said the date of emergency (i.e June 25, 1975) symbolises torture, imprisonment, murder and stifling the voice of free press.
"Torture , imprisonment, murder , stifling the voice of free press - 25 th June 1975 symbolises all that and more. Lest you forget what the Emergency imposed on India and Indians entailed ; do watch this video & see what the Congress party is capable of ! #DarkDaysOfEmergency," she said while tweeting a video on emergency.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath tweeted, "Salute to all the martyrs who fought fiercely against the brutal dictatorship without fear, without wavering, without bowing down to keep the great democracy of India intact!"
Goa CM Pramod Sawsant mentioned the day as a black spot in the Democratic History of India, "where the opposition was put behind bars, critics were silenced, press freedom suspended. On this day 48 years ago, the Emergency was imposed".
He added, "We pay our respects to the warriors who fought for the restoration of Democracy during the dark period. #DarkDaysOfDemocracy."
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis called emergency democracy's 'darkest times'. "A heart-wrenching remembrance of the 1975 Emergency, democracy's darkest times. Humble tributes to the brave souls who struggled and sacrificed to uphold the dignity of Indian democracy," he tweeted.
Notably, on June 25, 1975, former PM Indira Gandhi declared emergency in the country curtailing all rights of individuals and blanket censoring the media. The era is remembered as the days when opposition leaders were jailed in a bunch to prevent an uprising against Gandhi.