Darkest chapters: PM Modi criticizes Congress for the 1975 Emergency, saying it was a “nefarious attempt to strangle democracy.”

On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency in India, PM Narendra Modi delivered a sharp critique of the 1975 declaration imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, calling it one of the darkest moments in the country’s democratic history. Describing the Emergency as a deliberate “assassination of the Constitution”, Modi marked June 25 as a day the nation must never forget. In his address to the public and across digital platforms, the Prime Minister referred to the Emergency as a nefarious attempt to strangle democracy, highlighting how basic freedoms, including press independence and personal liberties, were brutally curtailed.

Emergency in India: A Dark Chapter Revisited

On June 25, 1975, India witnessed an extraordinary event that would go on to be remembered as one of its darkest democratic crises. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, facing political unrest and legal battles, declared a state of Emergency, citing internal disturbances. For the next 21 months, the country found itself under a shadow, where civil liberties were suspended, press freedom was crushed, and over 100,000 people, including opposition leaders, journalists, and students, were jailed without trial. Newspapers were forced into silence, protests disappeared from the streets, and everyday citizens learned what it meant to live without the basic rights they’d taken for granted. Now, as the nation marks 50 years of the Emergency, PM Narendra Modi’s speech served as a stark reminder. His words echoed the importance of protecting our freedoms, not just through laws, but through constant vigilance. Because once taken away, democracy isn’t easily reclaimed.

India News Today: Modi’s Warning and the Road Ahead

In the context of today’s political landscape, PM Narendra Modi’s remarks struck a familiar yet urgent chord. Reflecting on India’s journey as the world’s largest democracy, he stressed that the lessons of the 1975 Emergency should never be forgotten. Modi criticized the Congress party for what he described as a continued unwillingness to fully acknowledge or apologize for the authoritarian overreach. More importantly, he urged citizens to stay vigilant, warning that threats to democratic values don’t always arrive with fanfare, they can quietly resurface if not actively guarded against.

Why the 1975 Emergency Still Matters

The Emergency in India left a deep imprint on the nation’s collective memory. It redefined the public’s understanding of rights, governance, and power. Modi’s reference to June 25 as “Constitution Assassination Day” is part of a broader effort to ensure the events of that time are not reduced to mere footnotes in history books.

As the country moves forward, this moment of reflection serves as a timely reminder that democracy is not just a legacy, it’s a responsibility.

A Reminder That Still Matters

Fifty years on, the memory of the Emergency continues to stir deep reflection across the country. It has brought democracy back into sharp focus, not just as a system of governance, but as a collective responsibility. As India grapples with the complexities of today’s political environment, the events of 1975 serve as a powerful reminder of how fragile freedom can be when taken for granted. PM Modi’s words carried more than historical weight, they were a call to stay alert, to cherish the Constitution, and to recognize that protecting democracy is an everyday duty.