Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the 1975 Emergency as a direct assault on the Constitution, saying it marked one of the darkest periods in India’s democratic history.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the Emergency witnessed the suspension of civil liberties, restrictions on freedom of expression, arrests of political leaders, journalists and social workers, and attacks on institutions that form the foundation of Indian democracy.
Paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, Modi said their courage and commitment to democratic values continue to inspire the nation. He stressed that the Constitution represents the aspirations, rights and duties of 140 crore Indians and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Marking ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’, observed on June 25, the Prime Minister said the day serves as a reminder of the period when democracy was “brutally crushed” and reinforces the need to safeguard the Constitution and citizens’ rights.
The Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975, remained in force until March 21, 1977, during which civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was curtailed, and sweeping constitutional changes were introduced before it ended following the 1977 general elections.
