Latest news with #Emergencyof1975
News18
16 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'I Urge You To Persuade Pakistan': Indira Gandhi's Letter To Nixon After Pakistan Attacked India In 1971
This comes amid the opposition's relentless questions on US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during its military standoff A letter penned in 1971 by then prime minister Indira Gandhi to US President Richard Nixon has surfaced, in which she is asking him to 'persuade Pakistan" to give up its 'aggressive activities" against India two days after it attacked, triggering the Indo-Pakistan war that ended in the creation of Bangladesh. This comes amid the opposition's relentless questions on US President Donald Trump's claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during its military standoff following 'Operation Sindoor'. While the central government claims that no outside party was involved in any kind of ceasefire, opposition parties have repeatedly asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call Trump out for his 'lies" if that was not the case. 'In this hour of danger the Government and the people of India seek your understanding and urge you to persuade Pakistan to desist forthwith from the policy of wanton aggression and military adventurism which it has unfortunately embarked upon," Indira Gandhi wrote in her letter to Nixon dated December 5, 1971. The letter can be found on the website of the US Department of State's Office of the Historian in an archival volume titled 'Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971'. 'May I request Your Excellency to exercise your undoubted influence with the Government of Pakistan to stop their aggressive activities against India and to deal immediately with the genesis of the problem of East Bengal which has caused so much trial and tribulations to the people not only of Pakistan but of the entire sub-continent," she has written. In fact, on Tuesday, during a debate on 'Operation Sindoor', Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra even claimed that Indira had written to Nixon and countered him through successful diplomacy so as to lead to the division of Pakistan. She called her grandmother, the prime minister who imposed the draconian Emergency of 1975, a 'great patriot". Priyanka's brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi later severely criticised the Centre and questioned its 'political will" behind 'Operation Sindoor', which was a retaliation against Pakistan by the Indian armed forces following the Pahalgam terror attack. Before that, even Priyanka launched a full-blown attack on the government over 'lapses" that led to the Pahalgam attack. She took a swipe at Modi, saying leadership is not just about taking credit but also taking responsibility. view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 23:03 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Use your heart': Union law minister Meghwal's advice to officers facing dilemmas
Jun 30, 2025 10:52 PM IST Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday said officers should 'use their heart' when confronted with dilemmas, and emphasised the importance of upholding constitutional responsibility in public service. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal says officers should 'use their heart' in dilemmas.(ANI File) He made the remarks while addressing a five-day training programme for joint secretaries and senior officers of the department of legal affairs. The programme is part of ongoing capacity-building efforts for senior Indian Legal Service (ILS) officers, especially those newly inducted or preparing to take on joint secretary or other senior leadership roles. Recalling historical moments such as the Emergency of 1975, Meghwal shared anecdotes to highlight the need for personal integrity and constitutional commitment. Officers, he said, should 'use their heart' when faced with difficult choices and carry a deeper sense of constitutional duty in their roles, according to an official statement. Law secretary Anju Rathi Rana described the training as more than an induction, calling it 'a moment of professional inflection and institutional renewal.' Citing the recent repeal of colonial-era criminal laws, she stressed the critical role joint secretaries play in interpreting and implementing reforms. She also encouraged participants to move beyond traditional file-based functioning and adopt a solution-oriented, governance-enabling approach. 'The desk of a joint secretary is not merely a point of file movement, but a crucible where ideas are refined, policies shaped and decisions with far-reaching implications are made,' Rana said. With PTI inputs
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Situation in the country is worse than emergency, says Minister Santosh Lad
Labour Minister Santosh Lad on Sunday said, the situation in the country today was worse than the emergency and the Union government's failures were evident at all levels 'BJP leaders are organising events against the Emergency of 1975. Emergency was imposed 50 years ago. But the country is facing a crisis which is more serious than the emergency. Why are BJP leaders not talking about that?' he told reporters. He alleged that the BJP was trying to divert attention away from its failures in various fields. 'BJP does not want the people to raise questions about the government's failures in cases like Pahalgam and Pulwama. They do not want any discussion among the public on any serious issue. That is why it is going around speaking about the emergency,' he said. 'According to the BJP, our country or State can not be compared to any other country or State. They believe we have the best Prime Minister ever. In such a situation, is any discussion about the emergency relevant?' he said. Asked to react to a statement by R. Ashok, leader of the opposition, that there would be a new Chief Minister in Karnataka, Mr. Lad said the question as to who would be the new Chief Minister should be asked to Mr. Ashok.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Emergency Detainees Honoured On 50th Anniversary
1 2 Nagpur: On the 50th anniversary of one of India's darkest political chapters, the Emergency of 1975, the state govt, along with the district administration, felicitated those who chose imprisonment over silence. At the ceremony held at the Zilla Niyojan Bhavan on Wednesday, hundreds of former prisoners, now in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s, gathered for a moment that was long overdue, holding hands of their young family members who were not even born at the time of the Emergency. The honour included certificates of appreciation in recognition of their resistance against the suppression of democratic freedoms during the 21-month Emergency. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , who was in the state capital for a similar function for emergency detainees, sent a congratulatory message that was read aloud by tehsildar Santosh Khande. "Those who chose to go to jail during the Emergency saved India's democracy," Fadnavis said in his message, adding, "Their defiance against the dictatorship protected the spirit of free expression and constitutional values. On Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding democracy. " Veterans like Bindumadhav alias Banduji Dev, Umabai Pimpalkar, Devendra Vaidya and Sandhyatai Pandit were among those present. "We faced humiliation back then, but today's honour restores that dignity. This ceremony is not just for us; it's for the next generation to remember what was fought for," Dev said. A photo exhibition depicting the struggle during the Emergency was inaugurated by the veterans. Rare photographs, archival material, and personal stories of political prisoners like Shripad Risaldar, Jayant Puranik, Pushpatai Totade and others were on display. District collector Vipin Itankar, Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, additional commissioner Tejusingh Pawar and other senior officials presented the certificates on behalf of the state. A documentary film based on exclusive interviews with former detainees was also unveiled, offering an emotional lens into the lives impacted by the Emergency's clampdown on civil liberties. The event concluded with heartfelt acknowledgements from district information officer Vinod Rapatwar. The programme was hosted and coordinated by tehsildars Snehlata Medhe Patil and Shraddha Bagrao.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Emergency black day in history of independent India: CM
Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said the Emergency of 1975 symbolised the dictatorship of the then Union govt led by Indira Gandhi and its imposition marked a "black day in the history of independent India. " " We all remember the day of June 25, 1975, when a state of emergency was declared in the country. It is referred to as a 'black day' in the history of independent India. The emergency of 1975 symbolised the dictatorship of the then govt. During the emergency, the freedom of expression of the people was restricted," Nitish said in a post on social media on completion of 50 years of the imposition of the state of emergency. "Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan initiated a movement against the emergency. I, along with many of my colleagues, participated in this movement and actively opposed the emergency. All of us who raised our voices against the dictatorship were imprisoned. However, the citizens of the country demonstrated unity and courage. Together, we fought the battle," Nitish wrote in his post. Nitish was first arrested during the emergency from Dubauli village in Bhojpur district where he had gone to participate in a meeting under the leadership of veteran social leader Ram Ekbal Singh Warsi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You might be interested in the content above Undo He was then a student leader. "You all know that the essence of democracy lies in the voice of the people. It is our responsibility to protect it under all circumstances. Bihar has always paved its path of development with the spirit of the Constitution, justice, freedom, and social justice. Let us remain committed to being vigilant and ready to defend the ideals of the Constitution," the CM said in his post. Talking to reporters in Patna on Wednesday, senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad, however, defended the Emergency imposed by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, asserting that she did it following constitutional norms to suppress anti-national forces. "It was imposed to suppress the anti-national forces in the country. After the Emergency, the people of the country elected the Congress in the elections held in 1980 and even after that," Hariprasad told reporters here. The Article 352 of the Constitution "clearly states that Emergency can be imposed when there is an external attack or internal disturbance in the country. She (Indira Gandhi) did it legally. Whereas, India is now experiencing an undeclared Emergency under PM Narendra Modi," Prasad said.
