“50 years have passed since the Emergency, and many times on June 25 and 26 programmes have been organised discussing the truths of the Emergency, its background, and how it ended. But now, two generations have passed since then it’s not their fault that they don’t know about it. For us, Emergency is a memory. In a democratic country like Bharat, there was a violation of fundamental rights. This is a part of Bharat’s history, and every generation should be told about it. Otherwise, programmes on June 25 and 26 will remain mere memorial days. That is why those who witnessed it talk about its dangers what all happened”, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale while addressing a gathering on the 50 years of Emergency on June 26 at the Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Referring to veteran Journalist and IGNCA Chairman, Ram Bahadur Rai, he said “ the veteran has written about all these aspects in his book, and it should be discussed. Senior ABVP members should initiate a study circle and inform today’s ABVP members and current students what happened during Emergency”, he said.
“Indira Gandhi (the then Prime Minister), in order to save her power, compromised with democracy. She lost the ground in three places — first, in the case against Raj Narain where it was Court ruled that she could no longer remain an MP; second, in Gujarat, where Janta Front won and Congress lost, meaning a defeat in elections; and third, the mass movement across the country started by youth. In Gujarat, slogans like ‘Jeet Hamari Hai, Ab Bihar Ki Baari Hai’ were raised. Students demanded strict action against corruption, inflation, they also demanded election reform, and study reform. After the emergency ended, these demands were taken forward by those involved in the movement. Now NEP 2020 has come. In 2000, on the 50th year of the Constitution, reform debates were held across the country. Debates were held on administrative reforms, because the system was a legacy of the British Raj. Seminars were held on electoral reforms and judiciary reforms. The purpose of remembering Emergency was to carry forward such issues and these people did it”, he said.
Narrating an anecdote, Dattatreya Hosabale said, “When the Emergency was imposed, I was in a shakha in Bangalore. There was no mobile, no TV. Atal ji and Advani ji were also in Bangalore, we went to inform Atal ji that Emergency had been imposed, he had just received the information. The phones at the government guest house didn’t work. We witnessed Atal ji and Advani ji being arrested right in front of us. SN Mishra told the police, ‘Where is the warrant to arrest us? Don’t teach me. I am the lawmaker.’ The police replied, ‘There is no warrant.’ At that moment, Atal ji said, ‘Now we’ll have to go to Mamaji’s house.’ That was the time when the voice of the people of Bharat was suppressed”.
“During the Emergency, people faced third-degree torture, lost jobs, were beaten, and suffered atrocities. It was an example of what happens when people in power are driven by ego”, he said.
He further informed that “KR Malkani, the then Editor of Organiser, a week before the Emergency was called by Intelligence Bureau officers because he had written in his editorial that Emergency might be imposed and was asked ‘How did he know about this all’.
“In 1975, the nation had completed 25 years of independence. The crimes the British committed, the same way of running the state was continued. The British ruled like masters, and even after independence, that mentality of ruling the people continued. This mentality must be opposed and that is why the movement happened then”, he said.
“The coming generations should not only be told about Indira Gandhi but also about the mindset of that time, a political party that does not care about the nation but only wants to rule, that must be conveyed”, he further said.
Reflecting on the lessons we must learn from Emergency, Dattatreya Hosabale said, “It was a test for both the people of Bharat and its democracy”.
Mentioning the mindset of British Raj, he narrated another anecdote, “’Churchill had once said that Bharat does not deserve independence, the people of Bharat are not mature enough for freedom and democracy’. Our Constitution came in 1950, and in 1975, Emergency was imposed, just 25 years later. At that challenging time for democracy, the people of Bharat who believed in democracy proved Churchill wrong and declared that this country does deserve democracy”.
Pointing out Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders, Dattatreya Hosabale said, “Those who imposed Emergency roam around with copies of the Constitution, but they have not apologised till today. They must apologise. 1 lakh people went to jail and other 60 lakhs people were forcibly sterilised. Judiciary was weakened. If their ancestors did this, then they must apologise in their name”.
“During the Emergency, two words ‘Secular’ and ‘Socialist’ were added to the Constitution, which were not part of the original Preamble. Later, these words were not removed, and no debate happened either on this. Should they remain or not debates must happen on this. These two words were not in Dr Ambedkar’s Constitution. During Emergency, the country had no functioning Parliament, no rights, no judiciary and yet these two words were added. That is why this matter must be discussed”, he said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Veteran Journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, Madhya Pradesh, Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla, Founding President, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan, KN Govindacharya, Member Sceretary IGNCA, Sachhidanand Joshi and many eminent personalities were present at the event.
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