Emergency dark period in India’s history: Modi
Asks young generation to take a glance at such crimes to understand the meaning and significance of democracy
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: Describing the Emergency a “dark period” in India’s history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said those who supported democracy at that time were tortured and a glance at such crimes endangering the country’s freedom would make it easier for the young generation to understand the meaning and significance of democracy.
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi said India is the mother of democracy and “we consider our democratic ideals as paramount and our Constitution supreme. Therefore, we can never forget June 25th. This is the very day when Emergency was imposed on our country. It was a dark period in the history of India,” the prime minister said.
“Lakhs of people opposed the emergency with full might. The supporters of democracy were tortured so much during that time, that even today thinking about it, makes us shudder,” he said. Noting that many books have been written on these atrocities and punishments meted out by the police and administration, Modi said he had also written a book named “Sangharsh Mein Gujarat” at that time.
“A few days ago, I came across another book written on the Emergency – Torture of Political Prisoners in India. This book, published during the Emergency, describes how, at that time, the government was treating the guardians of democracy most cruelly,” he said, adding that there are many case studies in this book. “I wish that, today, when we are celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we must also take a glance at such crimes which endanger the freedom of the country. This will make it easier for today’s young generation to understand the meaning and significance of democracy,” the prime minister said.
Emergency was imposed in 1975 by the then Congress government led by prime minister Indira Gandhi. Modi also said that he was holding his ‘Mann kiBaat’ radio broadcast on June 18 instead of the last Sunday of the month as he will be travelling to the United States next week.
He said during his visit, he will get an opportunity to participate in the International Yoga Day programme at the United Nations headquarters in New York. “I appeal to all of you to adopt Yoga in your life and make it part of your daily routine,” he said.
Concluding the broadcast, Modi urged the people to take care if their health during this rainy season. Have a balanced diet and stay healthy, he told the people adding that they should certainly do Yoga.
