Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)On the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in India, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Ghulam Ali Khatana, held a press conference at the party headquarters in Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, calling it a “dark chapter” that should never be forgotten.
Speaking to journalists, MP Khatana condemned the 1975 Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which suspended civil liberties, muzzled the press, and jailed thousands of political opponents and activists. He described it as “the blackest period in independent India,” saying it was a time when “the Constitution was virtually put on hold, and the will of the people was crushed under authoritarian rule.”
“The Emergency was a direct attack on the very soul of our democracy,” Khatana said. “We must ensure that future generations are aware of this betrayal of constitutional values so it is never repeated.”
He praised the role of the Jana Sangh — the ideological predecessor of the BJP — and the sacrifices made by its leaders and workers during that period. “Thousands were jailed, tortured, and silenced. But their courage and commitment to democracy laid the foundation of our present political freedoms,” he said.
Khatana said that the observance of Emergency Day serves not just as a remembrance but as a warning. “We must remain vigilant. The threats to democracy may change in form, but the risk of losing it remains if we are complacent,” he added.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the BJP’s commitment to democratic ideals and constitutional governance.(DD)
