PM Modi on Emergency: “No Indian Will Ever Forget How the Spirit of the Constitution Was Undermined

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, described it as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic journey. “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest periods in our democracy — the imposition of the Emergency. The nation observes this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day). On this day, the foundational principles of our Constitution were discarded, fundamental rights were suspended, the press was silenced, and countless political leaders, social workers, students, and ordinary citizens were imprisoned. It felt as though the Congress government of that time had jailed democracy itself,” he said.

Highlighting the damage done, Modi reiterated that the rights enshrined in the Constitution were dismantled, press freedoms were crushed, and thousands were incarcerated. He cited the 42nd Amendment as a stark example of how the Congress regime attempted to reshape the Constitution to serve its own interests—an amendment later rolled back by the Janata government.

Modi noted that the most vulnerable sections of society—the poor and marginalised—were specifically targeted, and their dignity was trampled upon. “Today, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the values of our Constitution and to building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Let us strive for progress and work to fulfil the aspirations of the underprivileged,” he said.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to all those who resisted the Emergency. “People from all walks of life and across ideological lines came together to defend democracy. Their courage deserves our deepest respect,” he stated.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Modi shared that he was a young RSS pracharak during the Emergency and that the resistance movement served as a profound learning experience for him. “It was a reminder of the importance of safeguarding our democratic values. I also had the opportunity to learn from leaders across the political spectrum,” he said.

He praised the BlueKraft Digital Foundation for compiling these historical accounts into a book, with the foreword written by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, himself a key figure in the anti-Emergency movement.

In 2024, the Union government officially declared June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas to commemorate the suspension of democratic norms and constitutional values during the Emergency.