BJP Marks 50th Anniversary of 'Emergency' as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas'

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Emergency by declaring it 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas', targeting the Congress for its role in the era. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal asserted that the day has become a 'Waterloo' for Congress, symbolizing their political decline.

The Emergency, imposed from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, during Indira Gandhi's tenure, is remembered for detentions and the stifling of freedoms. A song, resonant of the era when people came to court, 'Hathkadiyon ki jhankar sune, jantantra ki lalkaar suno', echoed the spirit of democracy under constraint.

At a commemoration event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah honored survivor Sumita Arya, highlighting the era's tribulations. Arya recounted the dire conditions, prison sentences, and suppression of rights. Post-Emergency, Indira Gandhi's electoral defeat marked a significant shift, paving the way for the first non-Congress government led by Morarji Desai and the Jana Sangh.

(With inputs from agencies.)