Terming it an "unforgettable period in our history", Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday paid tribute to the people who resisted the Emergency declared by erstwhile PM Indira Gandhi in 1975. On the 48th anniversary of the Emergency, PM Modi tweeted, "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." 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. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Several Union ministers followed suit, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister for I&B and Sports Anurag Thakur, and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani. Shah also paid homage to those who fought to revive democracy. "On this day in 1975, a family had imposed Emergency on the country by taking away the rights of the people and killing democracy, fearing to lose power from their hands. The Emergency imposed for its own power-interest is a symbol of the dictatorial mentality of the Congress and a never-ending stigma. In those difficult times, lakhs of people struggled to revive democracy after suffering many tortures. I heartily salute all those patriots," said his tweet, roughly translated from Hindi. आज ही के दिन 1975 में एक परिवार ने अपने हाथ से सत्ता निकलने के डर से जनता के अधिकारों को छीन व लोकतंत्र की हत्या कर देश पर आपातकाल थोपा था। अपने सत्ता-स्वार्थ के लिए लगाया गया आपातकाल, कांग्रेस की तानाशाही मानसिकता का प्रतीक और कभी न मिटने वाला कलंक है। उस कठिन समय में अनेक… pic.twitter.com/oRtRa78ThQ — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 25, 2023 Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted, "25 June, each year reminds us of the murder of democracy in 1975 by the @INCIndia. Every institution, including the parliament was trampled upon. Media was completely effaced, human rights was more in its violation. All this for the survival of the dynasty.#Emergency #DarkDaysOfEmergency." 25 June, each year reminds us of the murder of democracy in 1975 by the @INCIndia. Every institution, including the parliament was trampled upon. Media was completely effaced, human rights was more in its violation. All this for the survival of the dynasty.#Emergency… — Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) June 25, 2023 BJP leaders and ministers used the hashtag DarkDaysOfEmergency as they posted on Twitter. Irani's tweet read, "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." 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 pic.twitter.com/kBlGbcKBSR — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 25, 2023 Anurag Thakur wrote in Hindi that the Emergency left an indelible stain on the country's democracy. He tweeted, "The repressive policies, power-hungry and dictatorial mentality of the Congress imposed an emergency on June 25, 1975 and put an indelible stain on Indian democracy." "Due to its ambition, the Congress leadership put millions of innocent people in jail overnight, put a lock on the freedom of the press, took away the freedom of expression of the people. The ego of a family and a person was kept above the interest of the country. Heartfelt salutations to every voice raised against the emergency," he added. कांग्रेस की दमनकारी नीतियों,सत्ता पिपाशा व तानाशाही मानसिकता ने 25 जून 1975 को आपातकाल लगाकर भारतीय लोकतंत्र के ऊपर कभी ना मिटने वाला धब्बा लगाया था। अपनी महत्वाकांक्षा के चलते कांग्रेसी नेतृत्व ने रातों रात लाखों निरअपराध लोगों को जेलों में ठूँस दिया,प्रेस की आज़ादी पर ताला… pic.twitter.com/NaGu0L0LgM — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 25, 2023 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's tweet, roughly translated from Hindi, said, "Emergency is still remembered as a dark chapter in the history of Indian democracy even after 48 years. The way Emergency was imposed overnight keeping the Constitution in check is still the biggest example of misuse of power, arbitrariness and dictatorship.#DarkDaysOfEmergency." भारतीय लोकतंत्र के इतिहास में आपातकाल को आज 48 साल बाद भी एक काले अध्याय के रूप में याद किया जाता है। रातों रात जिस तरह संविधान को ताक पर रखते हुए आपातकाल लगाया गया वह सत्ता के दुरुपयोग, मनमानी और तानाशाही का आज भी सबसे बड़ा उदाहरण है। #DarkDaysOfEmergency — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 25, 2023 Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said the Emergency puts under spotlight, a particular family and political outfit’s "lust" to cling to power. "The emergency declared on June 25 1975 by an insecure & authoritarian ruler will always be remembered as a crushing blow to democracy & human rights. It also puts under spotlight, a particular family’s & political outfit’s arrogance & lust to cling to power.#DarkDaysOfEmergency," Puri tweeted. The emergency declared on June 25 1975 by an insecure & authoritarian ruler will always be remembered as a crushing blow to democracy & human rights. It also puts under spotlight, a particular family’s & political outfit’s arrogance & lust to cling to power. #DarkDaysOfEmergency pic.twitter.com/QakhUqLzd9 — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 25, 2023 Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju tweeted, "On this day in 1975, India had lost it's freedom with the imposition of the Emergency, the darkest chapter in Azad India’s history.India won't accept dictatorial regime #Emergency1975HauntsIndia #DarkDaysOfEmergency." On this day in 1975, India had lost it's freedom with the imposition of the Emergency, the darkest chapter in Azad India’s history. India won't accept dictatorial regime.#Emergency1975HauntsIndia #DarkDaysOfEmergency pic.twitter.com/KAXI0MmnA7 — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 25, 2023 On June 26, 1975, Gandhi notified the nation that the President had proclaimed Emergency the previous night on account of “imminent security threats” to the country. During the period, constitutional rights of citizens were suspended and scores of journalists were arrested. The Emergency was withdrawn on March 21, 1977. The order was officially issued by then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
