 Early Times Report
Jammu, June 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to all those who stood firm in defence of democratic values during the Emergency, describing the 21-month period imposed in 1975 as one of the darkest chapters in India's history.
Marking the anniversary of the Emergency, the Prime Minister said the period witnessed a direct assault on the Constitution and democratic institutions, with civil liberties suspended, freedom of expression curtailed, and political leaders, journalists and social workers imprisoned.
In a message shared on social media platform X, Modi recalled the hardships endured during the Emergency and saluted those who resisted authoritarian measures and upheld the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.
"Today, we pay homage to all those who steadfastly defended democratic values during one of the darkest chapters in India's history, the Emergency," the Prime Minister said.
He noted that while the Emergency represented a severe challenge to democratic institutions, it also highlighted the extraordinary courage, resilience and determination of countless citizens who refused to remain silent in the face of adversity.
The Prime Minister sai "Today, we pay homage to all those who steadfastly defended democratic values during one of the darkest chapters in India's history, the Emergency. For all of us, our Constitution is an embodiment of the aspirations, rights and duties of 140 crore Indians. We reaffirm our collective commitment to safeguarding constitutional values,"
"For all of us, our Constitution is an embodiment of the aspirations, rights and duties of 140 crore Indians. We reaffirm our collective commitment to safeguarding constitutional values," he said.
Modi further emphasized that India would continue to strengthen its democratic foundations and remain guided by the constitutional ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Alongside his message, the Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit Subhashitam underscoring the importance of freedom and reaffirming the nation's commitment to protecting democracy, constitutional values and citizens' rights.
The post was accompanied by the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas, observed by the government to commemorate the anniversary of the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975.
The Emergency, which lasted until March 1977, remains one of the most debated periods in independent India's political history, marked by the suspension of fundamental rights, press censorship and widespread arrests of opposition leaders and activists. |
