Suresh Bhardwaj:Congress had crushed democracy during Emergency

Spread the news

Shimla, June 25

Ahead of the 51st anniversary of the Emergency, the Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified its attack on the Congress, with senior BJP leader and former minister Suresh Bhardwaj alleging that the party has no moral right to speak about protecting the Constitution and democracy.

Addressing the media in Shimla, Bhardwaj said the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, by the then Congress government was the biggest assault on democracy in India’s history. He alleged that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi turned the country into a “virtual prison” to safeguard her political interests.

The BJP has announced that June 25 will be observed nationwide as “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” (Constitution Murder Day), during which democracy activists who fought against the Emergency will be honoured.

Bhardwaj said three incidents had deeply shaken independent India: the Partition, the Emergency of 1975, and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. He claimed that fundamental rights were suspended during the Emergency, press freedom was curtailed, and opposition leaders were imprisoned across the country.

He alleged that after the Allahabad High Court invalidated Indira Gandhi’s election, the Congress chose to impose the Emergency rather than respect democratic norms and processes.

According to Bhardwaj, prominent leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Morarji Desai, George Fernandes, and Chandra Shekhar, along with thousands of political workers, were arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). He said citizens were left without the right to legal representation, to argue, or to appeal.

The BJP leader said a programme marking “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” will be held in Shimla on June 25, where BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal will be the chief speaker. Another event will take place in Palampur on June 27, featuring former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar as the keynote speaker.

Bhardwaj added that exhibitions showcasing documents and historical records related to the Emergency will be organized, while democracy activists and their family members will be felicitated during the events.