India Remembers: 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas' on Emergency's 50th Anniversary

As India commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, the day is officially observed as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas'. Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Mehrotra reminisced about being jailed during this period, describing it as a murder of democracy. Mehrotra announced plans to observe June 25 as 'Samvidhan Raksha Divas', vowing to protect the constitution.

The Central government has chosen to mark this sombre anniversary by recalling the imposition of the Emergency under Indira Gandhi in 1975. Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized India's resilience, asserting the nation never succumbs to dictatorship. Shah noted, "India is the mother of democracy," and positioned the period as a vital history chapter.

Amit Shah's address at a programme on the Emergency's 50th anniversary underscored that no external threats justified the Emergency. He pointed out the formation of the first non-Congress government post-Emergency as a turning point. Shah explained the Modi government's decision to observe 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas', ensuring the nation remembers the drastic changes imposed during the Emergency.

(With inputs from agencies.)