'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' on June 25, 'Emergency Anniversay' announces Union Govt; Congress calls it “Headline-Grabbing Exercise”

The Union government on Friday announced its decision to designate June 25 as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’, marking the anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in 1975. Henceforth, the day would be commemorate the “immense contribution” of those who “suffered inhuman pain” during the Emergency, announced Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“On 25 June 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, showing her dictatorial mindset, strangled the soul of Indian democracy by imposing an emergency in the country. Lakhs of people were jailed without any reason and the voice of the media was suppressed. The Government of India has decided to celebrate 25 June every year as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. This day will remind us of the immense contribution of all those people who suffered the inhuman pain of the Emergency of 1975,” posted Union Home Minister Amit Shah on “X”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too echoed similar sentiments, underscoring the significance of observing June 25 as a reminder of the perils of disregarding India's Constitution. “25th #SamvidhaanHatyaDiwas will remind the countrymen of the conditions the country had to go through after the Constitution was crushed. This day is also to pay tribute to all those who suffered the extreme pain of the Emergency. The country will always remember this oppressive step of the Congress as a black chapter in Indian history,” said the Prime Minister.

President Droupadi Murmu, addressing a joint session of the Parliament after the commencement of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha had reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, emphasizing the need to keep the memory of the Emergency alive in public consciousness. "The Emergency of 1975 was the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution,” said President Murmu. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had also in a parliamentary resolution, condemned the imposition of Emergency under the leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Birla praised the resilience of those who opposed the Emergency and “defended the democracy” during that period.

The government’s decision to observe ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ has stirred controversy, with senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticizing it as a hollow gesture. Ramesh labeled the move as a headline-grabbing exercise by PM Modi, asserting that June 4, 2024, when Modi lost decisively, should be celebrated as 'ModiMukti Diwas' instead.

“Yet another headline-grabbing exercise in hypocrisy by the non-biological PM who had imposed an undeclared Emergency for ten long years before the people of India handed him a decisive personal, political, and moral defeat on June 4, 2024 - which will go down in history as ModiMukti Diwas,” said Ramesh accusing PM Modi and his ideological associates of undermining the Constitution and its values, alleging a sustained assault on democratic institutions.

“Modiji’s regime is the true ‘Emergency.’ They have recently adopted the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, and the people are utterly confused as to how to go about it, it just does not make sense…This government cannot continue for long, this is not a stable government,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, hitting out at the BJP and the Union government.​