Governor Remembers 1975 Emergency and Attributes It As That Derailed Indian Democracy June 25 1975 Is Remembered for the Collaps

Governor remembers 1975 Emergency and attributes it as that derailed Indian democracy

June 25 1975 is remembered for the collapse of democratic institutions and suspension of right to freedom of citizens along with other civil rights and liberties and imposition of press censorship for indefinite period with the formal proclamation of Emergency in the country. The then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi misguided the country with a fake democracy and it was purely personal and political vendetta that led her to take such a drastic decision. Even the slogan ‘India is Indira and Indira is India’ is undemocratic and is too much in a country like ours where an individual cannot be above or equal with the country. It is the Constitution and the citizens who are the real strength of India. 43 years have passed in the mean time and the nightmare of 21 months dictatorial rule in a democratic country under the Emergency still hunts those who have suffered during that period, faced the brutality of police force and spent months together in jails across the country.

Leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Charan Singh, Chandrasekhar, George Fernandes, Nanaji Deshmukh, Arun Jaitely and many more have been targeted and put into jails. Many also went underground. Even the common man was not spared. They were arrested without trial; and even there are many who were harassed mercilessly. MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) was completely misused.

It was Haryana that witnessed big leaders being brought over here and were put into jail. Then serving as Professor in National College in Haryana and now Governor of Odisha Prof. Ganeshi Lal was a victim of Emergency and he was beaten all ends up by policemen in the middle of the road in broad daylight and he had to face police torture like anything. He along with others was put behind the bars for opposing the Emergency. To all those including Prof. Lal who lived through it, the Emergency was a 19-month nightmare and they are determined to see no repetition of this act of murdering democracy in the country.

1975 National Emergency is a great lesson. Every time it is remembered, it is time to revisit seriously that dark period in modern Indian democratic history to raise vigilance and awareness so that in future civil liberties are not violated and basic human rights are fully protected. Today more than half the country's population was born after 1975. They know little about the Emergency. They must be made aware what had happened then, the demerits of Emergency and how the country and its citizens had suffered. As future leaders of the country our youth must be at the forefront to make country vibrant. It is not just the citizens of the country but for governments to follow to honour Indian democracy and Constitution of India and always be committed to the philosophy and practice of democracy. Press freedom and civil liberties in the country are here to stay and our democratic institutions are allowed to function in the interests of citizens and strengthen the edifice of Indian democracy and hold national democratic conscience. ------Public Relations Officer to Governor