BJP Criticises Congress On Emergency Anniversary, Seeks Apology To Nation

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the Congress on the 51st anniversary of the Emergency, describing the period as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history and accusing the opposition party of never offering an unconditional apology for its actions between 1975 and 1977.

Marking the anniversary, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975, by the then Congress government, had undermined democratic institutions, suspended civil liberties, and suppressed dissent. In a message shared on social media, Shah alleged that constitutional principles were severely weakened during the 21-month period and said the anniversary serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding democratic freedoms.

BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticized the Congress, arguing that the Emergency represented an attack on constitutional values and democratic norms. Referring to the political developments preceding the Emergency, he said the decision was driven by the desire to retain power following legal challenges faced by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He questioned why the Congress, despite frequently invoking the Constitution in political discourse, had not formally apologised to the nation for the Emergency.

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The Emergency was declared under Article 352 of the Constitution and remained in force from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977. The period is widely remembered for press censorship, the suspension of several constitutional rights, mass arrests of opposition leaders, and controversial government policies. Political leaders across the spectrum have continued to debate its legacy, with supporters of the BJP frequently citing it as a cautionary example of executive overreach.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad rejected what he described as Congress attempts to justify the Emergency. He recalled the imprisonment of prominent opposition figures, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, and others. Prasad also referred to constitutional amendments enacted during the period and alleged that democratic institutions were weakened while opposition leaders remained incarcerated.

The BJP reiterated that the designation of June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas by the government serves as a reminder of the need to protect constitutional values, democratic institutions, and civil liberties. The party said the occasion should honour those who opposed the Emergency and reinforce public awareness of the importance of preserving democratic rights and freedoms in India.

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