On June 25, 2026, as the nation marked the 51st anniversary of the Emergency declared on June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on X to those who defended India’s democratic values and called the Emergency “a direct assault on our Constitution.” He said the period saw the suspension of civil liberties, curbs on freedom of expression, and arrests of political leaders, journalists and social workers, and urged renewed commitment to constitutional principles.
Modi praised citizens who “refused to remain silent” and described the Constitution as “an embodiment of the aspirations, rights and duties of 140 crore Indians,” saying the nation must safeguard justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. His message framed the anniversary as a reminder of both past abuses and civic resilience.
The Emergency was imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government on June 25, 1975, under Article 352, citing “internal disturbance” after the Allahabad High Court found her guilty of electoral malpractice. It remained in force for 21 months, ending on March 21, 1977, and is widely regarded as one of the most consequential and controversial periods in India’s democratic history.
During the Emergency, several fundamental rights were curtailed and thousands of political activists and ordinary citizens were detained. The press faced strict censorship, the central government’s powers were expanded through constitutional changes that reduced judicial oversight, and a controversial population-control campaign led to millions of sterilisation procedures across the country.
The political fallout was swift: the Congress party lost the 1977 general election, and subsequent legal and institutional reforms sought to add safeguards against future misuse of Emergency provisions. Historians and commentators continue to debate the scale and legacy of those changes.
Senior ministers also marked the anniversary. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the episode “severely tested the resilience of India’s democracy.” Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri called June 25, 1975, a “dark chapter” that left “deep wounds on civil rights,” and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the Emergency as “one of the darkest chapters” in the nation’s history.
As India observes this 51st anniversary on June 25, 2026, the consensus among leaders highlighted by these statements is that the Emergency’s memory serves as a cautionary reminder: the protection of civil liberties, a free press and independent institutions remains central to the health of the republic.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/emergency-pm-modi-recalls-the-midnight-decision-that-changed-india-51-years-ago-14026108.html
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Publish Date: 2026-06-25 15:17:00
