In her inaugural address to a joint sitting of Parliament following the recent general elections, President Droupadi Murmu described the Emergency imposed in 1975 as the most significant assault and blemish on India’s Constitution. This address marked her first to the newly elected Lok Sabha.
“The Emergency in 1975 was the biggest attack on the Constitution of India and a blot on it,” President Murmu stated, receiving applause from the ruling party members and drawing protests from the Opposition.
The President’s remarks were made amidst an ongoing fierce debate between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition regarding the Emergency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other central ministers have highlighted the severe impacts of the Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In contrast, the Congress party and its allies have argued that an “undeclared emergency” has been in effect during the ten years of Narendra Modi’s administration.
Also Read: ‘Emergency a black spot’: PM Modi hits out at Congress ahead of Parliament session
In a sharp critique of the primary opposition party, Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi’s government, calling it a “black spot” on India’s democracy. Modi’s remark came just before the first Parliament session following the recent general election was set to begin.
Prime Minister Modi, starting his third term after an election where the BJP did not secure a clear majority, assured citizens that his government would work three times harder to achieve three-fold results.
“This election is significant,” Modi said, “because this is only the second government since Independence to be chosen for a third consecutive term. This opportunity has come after 60 years. When people choose a government for the third term, it signifies approval of its intent, policies, and dedication. I thank the people for this,” he told the media.
Reflecting on the Emergency, Modi said, “Tomorrow marks 50 years since the black spot on Indian democracy. The new generation should not forget how the Indian Constitution was scrapped, how the country was turned into a jail, and how democracy was seized. On this 50th anniversary, the country will pledge that it will never happen again.”
