India to mark Emergency Day. June 25 to be observed as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas'

India's Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (July 12) announced that the government will mark the Emergency Day, i.e., June 25 as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas', which translates to 'Constitution killing day'.

"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 on the nation. Lakhs of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own, and the voice of the media was silenced," said the Home Minister, on social media platform X.

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"The Government of India has decided to observe the 25th of 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," Shah added.

"The decision made by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intended to honour the spirit of millions who struggled to revive democracy despite facing inexplicable persecution at the hands of an oppressive government. The observance of 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' will help keep the eternal flame of individual freedom and the defence of our democracy alive in every Indian, thus preventing dictatorial forces like the Congress from repeating those horrors," said the Home Minister.

All about the dark era of Emergency

India's then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, imposed an Emergency which marked a period of censorship, arrests without warrants and curbing of various democratic freedoms.

The prime minister had cited internal disturbances as the reason behind such extreme steps. However, it was seen as a brazen attempt by Gandhi to maintain power.

The government had also faced strong opposition and the Emergency had lasted until March 21, 1977.

Declaring on All India Radio, in a post-midnight broadcast which left many across the countryshocked, Gandhi said, “The President has declared a state of Emergency. There is no need to panic.”

This declaration marked a steep turn of power politics in India as the world'slargest democratic nationsaw the suspension of all fundamental rights, apart from the right to life.

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The government also throttled the neck of the media as restrictionswere imposed on magazines and newspapers and the broadcast of television and radio were regulated where onlygovernment-sanctioned news was allowed to be aired.

During this emergency phase, Indira's sonSanjay Gandhi also carried out a mass campaign forvasectomy.

During the emergency, the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution was also passed in which the description of India was changed from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic".

(With inputs from agencies)