Amit Shah: Emergency Was Darkest Period, Must Never Be Forgotten
New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said the fight against the Emergency has kept Indian democracy alive, urging the nation to remember the dark chapter imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s “Kitchen Cabinet.”
Speaking at the “Aapatkaal Ke 50 Saal” programme, Shah called the 21-month Emergency from June 25, 1975, the “longest night” in India’s democratic history. “The Constitution was sidelined within a minute, civil liberties were suspended, and the entire nation was turned into a prison,” he said.
Shah recalled how opposition leaders like George Fernandes and Acharya Kripalani were jailed without cause. “Over 1.1 lakh people were imprisoned including students, media persons, and even social workers merely for exercising their rights,” he added.
He stressed that although 50 years have passed, the wounds inflicted by Congress tyranny remain fresh in the hearts of millions. “Some question why we remember this, but it is essential to prevent the return of such dictatorial tendencies,” Shah said.
Calling the Emergency a blatant attack on India’s democratic foundations, Shah warned against letting its legacy fade, emphasizing vigilance to safeguard the Constitution and civil liberties.
