On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that June 25, the anniversary of the imposition of the emergency by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, will now be observed as ‘samvidhaan hatya diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day). This declaration marks a significant step in remembering and reflecting on an important moment in India’s democratic history. The emergency period, which lasted until 1977, saw widespread suppression of civil liberties, including the restriction of free speech and mass arrests of political opponents.
By designating June 25 as ‘samvidhaan hatya diwas’, Amit Shah shows the importance of upholding the Indian Constitution and the fundamental rights it guarantees. This day will serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by democracy during times of crisis and emphasizes the flexibility needed to protect democratic values. This commemoration aims to educate citizens about the importance of safeguarding constitutional principles and cherishing the freedoms enshrined in India’s democratic framework.
“On June 25, 1975, the then PM Indira Gandhi, in a brazen display of a dictatorial mindset, strangled the soul of our democracy by imposing the emergency by imposing the emergency on the nation. Lakhs of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own , and the voice of the media was silenced,” home minister Amit Shah announced on X(formerly twitter).
25 जून 1975 को तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री इंदिरा गाँधी ने अपनी तानाशाही मानसिकता को दर्शाते हुए देश में आपातकाल लगाकर भारतीय लोकतंत्र की आत्मा का गला घोंट दिया था। लाखों लोगों को अकारण जेल में डाल दिया गया और मीडिया की आवाज को दबा दिया गया। भारत सरकार ने हर साल 25 जून को ‘संविधान… pic.twitter.com/KQ9wpIfUTg
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 12, 2024
“The government of india has decided to observe the 25 june every year as ‘samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’. This day will commemorate the massive contributions of all those who endured the inhuman pains of the 1975 emergency,” he said.
PM modi quoted the post saying “ To observe 25th june as #samvidhaanHatyaDiwas will serve as a reminder of what happens when the Constitution of india was trampled over. It is also a day to pay homage to each and every person who suffered due to excesses of emergency , a Congress unleashed dark phase of Indian History”.
To observe 25th June as #SamvidhaanHatyaDiwas will serve as a reminder of what happens when the Constitution of India was trampled over. It is also a day to pay homage to each and every person who suffered due to the excesses of the Emergency, a Congress unleashed dark phase of… https://t.co/om14K8BiTz
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 12, 2024
Reacting to the announcement, congress gave this move a title of “another headline grabbing exercise”
“Yet another headline grabbing exercise in hypocrisy by the non-biological PM who had imposed an undeclared Emergency for ten long years before the people of India handed him a decisive personal, political, and moral defeat on June 4, 2024 – which will go down in history as ModiMukti Diwas. This is a non-biological PM who has subjected the Constitution of India and its principles, values, and institutions to systematic assault. This is a non-biological PM whose ideological parivar had rejected the Constitution of India in Nov 1949 on the grounds that it did not derive inspiration from Manusmriti. This is a non-biological PM for whom democracy means only demo-kursi”
Yet another headline grabbing exercise in hypocrisy by the non-biological PM who had imposed an undeclared Emergency for ten long years before the people of India handed him a decisive personal, political, and moral defeat on June 4, 2024 – which will go down in history as…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 12, 2024