‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’: PM Modi Reflects on 1975 Emergency, Calls it ‘Darkest Chapter’

Marking 50 years since the imposition of Emergency in India in 1975 during the Congress Government in power at that time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described it as “one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history” and noted that the day is marked as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas — a reminder of the time when the Constitution was set aside and democracy came under threat.

In a series of sharp posts on social media platform X, PM Modi recalled how “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.”

He wrote, “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".

He pointed to the 42nd Amendment as “a prime example of their shenanigans” and said the Emergency regime “particularly targeted the poor, marginalised and downtrodden, including their dignity insulted.”

Saluting the resistance to the Emergency, Modi said, “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency!”

He described the protest as a united movement where people “from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies” came together “to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives".

The Prime Minister emphasised that the collective struggle forced the then Congress government to restore democracy and hold fresh elections, “which they badly lost".

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to constitutional values, PM Modi posted, “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".

Moreover, sharing a personal reflection, PM Modi recalled, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me.”

He said the period “reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework” and taught him much from people “across the political spectrum".

In a final call to action, PM Modi urged citizens, especially those who experienced the Emergency or whose families suffered during the 1975–77 period, to “share their experiences on social media". He said it would “create awareness among the youth of the shameful time".