On the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Emergency, political leaders, scholars, and civil society members gathered in Bengaluru’s Town Hall to commemorate what they termed “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas”—a grim reminder of one of the darkest periods in independent India’s democratic history.
The event, organised by Citizens for Social Justice Bengaluru, was marked by powerful condemnations of the Emergency declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. The speakers strongly criticised the suspension of civil liberties, censorship of the press, and the complete breakdown of democratic institutions during the 21-month Emergency period.
B.S. Yediyurappa: The Constitution was sacrificed at the altar of power
Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, speaking at the event, described the Emergency as a blatant betrayal of India’s Constitution and a dark attempt to suffocate democracy for personal power. “The sacred Constitution of India, painstakingly crafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, was trampled upon to preserve one individual’s political career. The freedom of the press, judicial autonomy, and the people’s rights were mercilessly crushed. Those were truly dark days,” he said.
Yediyurappa reminded the audience that India, which fought so hard to attain freedom, lost all its democratic rights in one sweeping move. “What happened in 1975 was nothing short of a dictatorship. The Congress party, once the flagbearer of the freedom movement, turned its back on democracy and embraced tyranny,” he lamented.
S. Gurumurthy: Congress must be held accountable
Economist and columnist S. Gurumurthy took sharp aim at the Congress party, accusing it of never apologising for the Emergency. He emphasised the irony of Rahul Gandhi holding up a copy of the Constitution during recent election campaigns. “The Constitution Rahul Gandhi parades is not the one his grandmother upheld; it’s the very one she undermined—and it had to be restored by the people of India,” he said.
“Rahul Gandhi should, in fact, be thanked for inadvertently reviving the national debate on the Emergency. We should observe June 25 as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to ensure that future generations never forget what was done in 1975,” Gurumurthy added.
He went on to remind the audience that even Rajiv Gandhi, after securing a landslide victory in 1984 with 415 MPs, did not hesitate to say that an Emergency could be imposed again if needed. “This proves that the mindset of suppressing democracy was not just limited to one generation of Congress leadership,” he said.
A democracy crushed, a nation scarred
The speakers at the event described how freedom of speech, political dissent, and press freedom were obliterated during the Emergency. Thousands of opposition leaders, journalists, activists, and students were jailed without trial. Among the worst affected were parties like the RSS, Jan Sangh, and other civil society organisations, whose members faced brutal repression.
An exhibition was also held, showcasing rare photographs and documents from the Emergency period, including images of underground resistance movements and the role of unsung heroes who defied the state to protect democracy.
A cautionary tale for future generations
Retired Vice-Chancellor Dr. Vishnukant Chattapalli and artist Chi. Su. Krishna Shetty, who also spoke at the gathering, emphasised the need to educate younger citizens about the Emergency so that its horrors are never repeated. “Democracy is fragile and must be guarded vigilantly. What we take for granted today—freedom to speak, dissent, write, and vote—was wiped out with a single proclamation in 1975,” said Chattapalli.
Yediyurappa concluded by warning that authoritarian tendencies still lurk beneath the surface and called on citizens to remain vigilant. “The Emergency was not just 21 months of tyranny. It was a dangerous reminder of how quickly power can corrupt. Let this day remind us: never again.”
On June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a nationwide Emergency, citing internal disturbances. The move allowed the government to rule by decree, suspend civil liberties, censor the press, and jail opposition leaders en masse. It lasted until March 21, 1977, when general elections were held, and the Congress was voted out of power. The Emergency remains one of the most controversial chapters in Indian political history.
