India’s PM Modi pays tribute to defenders of Democracy on Samvidhan Hatya Diwas

(Forelines) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on wednesday, paid emotional respects to the many Indians who stood up in defense of democracy during one of the darkest periods in the country’s history on the sad occasion of fifty years since the Emergency was imposed.

The Prime Minister said that June 25th is celebrated as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, a day when fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished, and innumerable political figures, social workers, students, and regular citizens were imprisoned. He recalled the serious attack on constitutional values.

Additionally, PM Modi reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the fundamentals of our Constitution and cooperating to realize our goal of a Viksit Bharat.

He added that the anti-Emergency campaign served as a teaching moment that reinforced the importance of upholding our democratic system.

To raise awareness among the youth of the awful period from 1975 to 1977, PM Modi urged everyone who remembers those dark days of the Emergency or whose family suffered during that time to share their stories on social media.

“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed. It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

“No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled and attempts were made to control the courts. The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted,” PM Modi replied in his own post on X.

“We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives. It was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress Government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost,” he added.

“We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat. May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he further stated.

“When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum. I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the anti-Emergency movement,” PM Modi said in an another post on X.

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“The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time. I call upon all those who remember those dark days of the Emergency or those whose families suffered during that time to share their experiences on social media. It will create awareness among the youth of the shameful time from 1975 to 1977,” PM Modi further added an another post on X.