Nail driven deeper in coffin of Indian democracy: JP's 'Prison Diary' poignant account of Emergency
Jayaprakash Narayan, then 72-years-old, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, and other opposition leaders were soon arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
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Mint
32 minutes ago
- Mint
‘George Fernandes was shackled… we refused to compromise on democracy in emergency': PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address on Sunday, played clips of prominent voices who opposed the Emergency, using their remarks to criticise the then Congress government for its suppression of civil liberties. 1. PM Modi emphasised that these voices should be remembered as a reminder to remain vigilant in safeguarding the Constitution. Modi stated that those who imposed the Emergency not only violated the Constitution but also undermined the independence of the judiciary, turning it into a puppet. 2. His condemnation of the Congress for the Emergency-era excesses without naming the party of the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, came amid an ongoing bitter war of words between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, which have claimed that an undeclared Emergency prevails under the Modi government. Modi said people were tortured on a large scale during the Emergency for the 21-month period between 1975 and 1977. There are many examples which cannot be forgotten, he added. 3. He played bits of speeches of former prime minister Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and former deputy PM Jagjivan Ram related to the period. George Fernandes was shackled; he noted and recalled that anyone could be arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) at that time. Students were harassed and freedom of expression throttled, he added. 4. Thousands of people were arrested and subjected to inhuman treatment, but it is the strength of Indians that they did now bow and accept any compromise with democracy, he said. 'People finally won, the Emergency was lifted, and those who imposed it lost,' he said. 5. In his address to the nation through the 123rd edition of his monthly radio program 'Mann ki Baat' PM Modi said, "All of you must be filled with the energy of Yoga and memories of International Yoga Day. This year too, on June 21, crores of people took part in the International Day of Yoga celebrations. It began 10 years ago, over these years, every year this tradition has become even grander than before. This also indicates that more and more people are incorporating yoga in their daily lives." 6. Modi added, 'Eri Silk from Meghalaya was recently awarded GI tag... The tribes of Meghalaya, especially the Khasi community, have preserved it for generations and enriched it with their skills... The silkworms that produce this are not killed, which is why it is known as 'Ahinsa Silk'. It is a perfect product for the global market since there is an increased demand of products that don't harm the environment... This silk keeps you warm during winters and cool during summers... Women of Meghalaya are taking this to a larger scale via self-help groups.' 7. Modi stated an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, which stated that more than 64 per cent of India's population is getting some form of social protection benefit. "Presently, most of the populace in India is taking advantage of one social protection benefit or the other and recently a very important report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has come out. It has been mentioned in this report that more than 64% of the population of India is now definitely availing some sort of social protection benefit or the other," Modi said. 8. India has seen a remarkable 45 percentage point increase in social security coverage over the past decade, making it the second-highest globally in terms of social protection reach. Key government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY), the e-Shram portal, and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have been instrumental in this expansion. 9. This significant rise in coverage is also expected to bolster India's position in international forums and facilitate the finalisation of social security agreements with developed countries, enhancing global cooperation and worker welfare. People finally won, the Emergency was lifted, and those who imposed it lost. 10. PM Modi also mentioned the World Health Organisation report, which has declared India free from Trachoma disease and asserted that the credit behind the achievement goes to India's health workers and 'Jal Jeevan Mission'. 'WHO has declared Indian Trachoma-free country... This is the success of our health workers... 'Jal Jeevan' Mission has contributed to this', PM Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)
News18
an hour ago
- News18
‘Not Only They Murder Democracy But…': PM Modi's Dig At Congress On Imposing Emergency
Last Updated: PM Modi said that recently India marked 50 years of dark period and said that democracy was murdered and the people of India were harassed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a veiled jibe at Congress party saying that people who imposed emergency in the nation did not just murder the democracy but their goal was also to keep judiciary as their puppet. While addressing the 123rd episode of his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said that recently India marked 50 years of dark period and said that democracy was murdered and the people of India were harassed. He further said that the Emergency was a tough period for the nation. During the broadcast, the Prime Minister also aired the brief message of former PM Morarji Desai detailing how people were tortured during that period. 'Morarji Desai describes the Emergency in brief… Not only did those who imposed Emergency murder democracy, but their intention was to keep the judiciary as their puppet… Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured…" he said. Democracy had entered a dark period during those years. Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured… Indians refused to compromise on democracy. Finally, people won and Emergency was lifted," PM Modi said. He further said that the country marked 50 years of Emergency being imposed, a few days ago. 'We countrymen observed 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas' on the occasion and we must remember those who bravely fought against Emergency. This inspires us to remain vigilant to safeguard our constitution," he added. Earlier on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, passed a resolution to commemorate and honour the 'sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency". The 21-month-long censorship of the press, mass arrest, and centralisation of power in the hands of an unaccountable executive marked the nadir of Indian democracy. The roots of this unprecedented move lay in a verdict delivered just weeks earlier. On 12 June 1975, the Allahabad High Court found Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractice in her 1971 win over socialist leader Raj Narain from Rae Bareli. The court disqualified her from holding office and barred her from contesting elections for six years. Soon after the court's ruling, the opposition launched a nationwide campaign demanding her resignation. Indira Gandhi's inner circle argued that the country was descending into anarchy – trains had stopped running, courts were being surrounded, and public services had come to a standstill due to strikes. As the pressure mounted, Gandhi's legal team crafted a justification for invoking Article 352. With one stroke of the pen, democracy was suspended. Civil liberties vanished overnight. The press was muzzled, opposition leaders jailed, judicial oversight curtailed, and censorship became law. For the next 21 months, India was ruled under extraordinary powers. Thousands of political opponents were imprisoned without trial. A period of forced sterilisations and slum demolitions followed, with the government wielding unchecked authority.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
People who imposed emergency did not just murder democracy but...: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at the Congress party, saying people who imposed emergency did not just murder democracy but their goal was also to keep judiciary as their puppet, while speaking in the 123rd episode of Mann Ki Baat . The prime minister added that Emergency was a tough period for India. " George Fernandes was chained up, students didn't have the freedom to express themselves. Democracy had entered a dark period during those years. Under 'MISA', anyone was arrested arbitrarily, people were tortured... Indians refused to compromise on democracy. Finally, people won and Emergency was lifted," Modi said. Earlier on Wednesday, The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, passed a resolution to commemorate and honour the "sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency" and were subjected to "unimaginable horrors." In a series of posts on X, PM Modi described the Emergency as the " darkest chapter of Indian democracy " and reaffirmed his government's commitment to strengthening constitutional principles and opposing any attempt to subvert the spirit of the Constitution. The resolution notes that the year 2025 marks 50 years of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas , a turning point in India's history when, it states, the Constitution was subverted and the democratic spirit of the republic was attacked. Live Events Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
