India Marks 50 Years Since Emergency With Tributes

On the 50th anniversary of India's Emergency, the government officially marked June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to commemorate the suspension of constitutional rights during the 1975-77 period under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Leaders across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, condemned the Emergency as an era of injustice imposed by the Congress party, while tributes were paid to those who resisted authoritarian rule. Stories of underground activism, including efforts by a young Narendra Modi, were highlighted to emphasize the resistance and defense of democratic values. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and others stressed the importance of remembering the Emergency to safeguard democracy for future generations. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan drew parallels to alleged current threats to democracy, referring to an 'undeclared Emergency.' Accounts from historians and survivors underscore the enduring impact of press censorship, mass detentions, and loss of civil liberties as warnings for contemporary India.