Marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday condemned the 1975 decision as a “nefarious attempt to strangle Indian democracy.”

In a post on X, Singh said, “People still remember the Emergency as the darkest chapter in Indian democracy. Sidelining the Constitution, the manner in which the Emergency was imposed on the country is a glaring example of the misuse of power and dictatorship.”

The Emergency, declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, led to the suspension of civil liberties, arrests of opposition leaders, and press censorship. Singh said no constitutional institution was left untouched by misuse, but added that the nation’s democratic spirit withstood the authoritarian rule.

Singh paid tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, noting that their courage and sacrifices kept Indian democracy alive. “The future generations of India will never forget their contribution,” he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day) nationwide. As part of this, the party has planned outreach events at booth and district levels to educate youth about the dangers of authoritarianism and the value of preserving democratic institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to formally mark June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is meant to ensure citizens remember this period as a lesson in the fragility of democracy, Singh added.

The Emergency was declared on grounds of “internal disturbance” following the Allahabad High Court’s verdict invalidating Indira Gandhi’s election. However, critics continue to view it as an attempt to stifle political dissent.