BJP marks Samvidhan Hatya Diwas to condemn 1975 Emergency

June 25, 1975, remains a dark chapter in India’s history, when the Congress government declared a nationwide Emergency. Decades later, the Narendra Modi administration is formalizing the memory of this period by observing the date as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, aiming to ensure the suspension of civil liberties is never forgotten.

Editorial·June 25, 2026·reads: 317

BJP marks Samvidhan Hatya Diwas to condemn 1975 Emergency

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the commemoration, accusing the Congress party of prioritizing the greed for power over the country's constitutional soul. In a series of statements, Shah and Union Minister JP Nadda argued that the 21-month suspension of rights was orchestrated solely to protect the political interests of one family. Nadda characterized the era as the greatest atrocity inflicted upon the Indian public, noting that opposition leaders were jailed while the press faced severe censorship.

The Emergency, which lasted until March 1977, was triggered by a proclamation under Article 352 citing internal disturbance. Under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the government utilized the Maintenance of Internal Security Act to detain thousands, including activist Jayaprakash Narayan. Official reports from the subsequent Shah Commission documented widespread abuses, including forced sterilizations and the suppression of fundamental rights. By institutionalizing Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, the current government seeks to honor those who resisted the era's dictatorship and to cement the memory of these events for future generations.