“Democracy was murdered when lakhs of political leaders were put behind bars in 1975”: Bihar Dy CM Samrat Choudhary

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 12 (ANI): Describing the Centre’s announcement to observe June 25 as “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” in remembrance of the 1975 Emergency as an arrangement to save democracy, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said that democracy was murdered when laks of political leaders were put behind bars during the Emergency.

He said, “Democracy was murdered when lakhs of political leaders were lodged in the jail after Emergency in 1975. Journalists were put behind bars. And they had done no crime. That was Emergency”.

Speaking to reporters, the BJP reporter told ANI, “It was an Emergency when democracy was murdered and several people were put behind bars without any fault…An arrangement has been made to save the democracy…”

Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel told ANI,” June 25 is a black day in the history of India. On that day, the Constitution made by Babasaheb Ambedkar was murdered….A right decision has been taken by the government so that such a thing is not repeated again.”

The government said that every year on June 25, the country will remember the great contribution of those who endured the “inhuman pain” of the Emergency of 1975. A notification has also been issued by the Government of India to celebrate June 25 as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’.

To pay tributes to all those who suffered and fought against the gross abuse of power during the period of Emergency 1975, the Central government has declared June 25 as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the announcement in a gazette notification pointing “a proclamation of Emergency was made on 25th June 1975, following which there was gross abuse of power by the government of the day and people of India were subjected to excesses and atrocities”.

“Whereas, people of India have abiding faith in the Constitution of India and the power of India’s resilient democracy; Therefore, Government of India declares 25 June as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ to pay tribute to all those who suffered and fought against the gross abuse of power during the period of Emergency and to recommit the people of India to not support in any manner such gross abuse of power, in future,” the notification read.

Soon after the notification was issued, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X, “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.”

Shah added, “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.”

Appreciating the decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the 1975 Emergency as a “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 Indian history,” PM Modi posted on X.

Earlier on June 26, the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution condemning the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Speaker Om Birla read out the resolution condemning the act and said that June 25, 1975, will always be known as a black chapter in the history of India.