50 Years of Emergency: 50 years ago on this day, the country had to face emergency, know the whole story behind it..

In the year 1975, from the intervening nights of 25 and 26 June to 21 March 1977 (21 months), the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared an emergency in the country. Today this emergency has completed 49 years. The then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had declared an emergency in the country under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution on the recommendation of the government led by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On the completion of 49 years of emergency, the BJP attacked Congress sharply. Along with this, the opposition party was also accused of killing democracy and repeatedly damaging it. BJP President JP Nadda surrounded the Congress while referring to the emergency. He said that today those who claim to protect Indian democracy left no opportunity to suppress the voices raised to protect the constitutional values. BJP has described the emergency as a black chapter in Indian democracy.

The BJP raised the issue of emergency when the opposition accused the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of working against the Constitution. Apart from PM Modi, all the top leaders of the BJP criticized the emergency. Why did the BJP call the Emergency a dark chapter in Indian democracy? Here we will learn about some important issues related to Emergencies.

Under what circumstances Emergency was imposed

The main reason for the Emergency is said to be a decision of the Allahabad High Court. In that decision, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was held guilty of misconduct in the election campaign. Indira Gandhi won the 1971 election by a big margin. She also gave a big victory to the party. Rival Raj Narayan knocked on the door of the court raising questions about Indira's victory. Raj Narayan alleged in his petition that Indira Gandhi had used the wrong methods to win the election. The case was heard and Indira Gandhi's election was canceled.

This step taken by the Indira Gandhi government became the reason for many historical events in the country. This was the most controversial time in the history of independent India. After the announcement on 25 June 1975, the Emergency remained in force in India till 21 March 1977 i.e. for about 21 months.

How the country was affected by the Emergency

During the Emergency, elections were postponed across the country.

With the declaration of the Emergency, the fundamental rights of every citizen were suspended. People had neither the right to freedom of expression nor the right to life.

From the night of June 5, arrests of opposition leaders began in the country. Big leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, and Jayaprakash Narayan were sent to jail.

So many people were put in jail that there was no space left in the jails.

Censorship was imposed on the press. Censor officers were posted in every newspaper. No news could be published without the permission of that censor officer. If someone published news against the government, he had to face arrest.

During the Emergency, the administration and the police tortured people, stories of which came to light later.

RK Dhawan reveals inside details
RK Dhawan, who was the personal secretary of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, revealed many important things related to the Emergency in an interview with the media, which all the citizens of the country should know about.

The then CM of West Bengal SS Rai had advised Indira Gandhi to impose an Emergency in January 1975. The then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed did not object to the Emergency. He immediately agreed to it.

Indira was unaware of atrocities like forced sterilization and the bulldozing of Turkman Gate during the Emergency. Indira also did not know that Sanjay was acquiring land for his Maruti project. According to Dhawan, he had helped Sanjay in this project and there was nothing wrong in it.

Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi had no regrets about the Emergency. Maneka Gandhi also supported her husband Sanjay Gandhi at every step.

The Emergency was not imposed to save Indira's political career. She was ready to resign. But cabinet colleagues advised her not to resign.

Dhawan said that Indira's Principal Secretary PN Dhar had given a report which said that according to the IB if elections were held, she would win 340 seats. After this, Indira had conducted the 1977 elections. But Indira suffered a huge defeat in that election. But Indira was not sad about this defeat. After getting the news of defeat, Indira said, 'Thankfully, I will now have time for myself.'

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