50 Years After Emergency: BJP Accuses Congress of Undermining Democracy
Marking 50 years since the declaration of the Emergency in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday criticised the Congress party, saying that those who now speak of saving democracy had previously attacked democratic institutions.
BJP president Nitin Nabin described the Emergency, imposed in 1975 and lasting 21 months, as the "darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy." In a post on X, he said it was not merely a political decision but a deliberate attack on the Constitution, democratic institutions, and civil liberties.
"In the greed to save power, an attempt was made to crush the democratic soul of the nation, but the struggle of democracy fighters, nationalist organisations, and millions of citizens ultimately paved the way for the restoration of democracy," Nabin wrote.
The Emergency was declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975, citing internal disturbances. It led to the suspension of civil liberties, press censorship, and mass arrests of political opponents. The period remains a contentious chapter in Indian history, with critics viewing it as a dark era for democracy, while some in Congress have defended it as necessary for national stability.
The BJP's remarks come as part of a broader political narrative ahead of the 2024 general elections, with the party seeking to highlight historical differences between itself and the Congress.
