Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on 25 June described June 25, 1975 — the day the Emergency was imposed — as one of the darkest blots on independent India's history, marking the occasion as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed it nationally as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Murder Day). Speaking through a post on X, Reddy said the Emergency suspended fundamental rights, silenced free speech, censored the press, and resulted in political opponents, journalists, and activists being jailed without trial.

Kishan Reddy's Tribute to Democracy's Defenders

Paying homage to those who resisted authoritarianism during the 21-month Emergency, Reddy said: 'As we observe Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, we pay tribute to all those who courageously resisted authoritarianism and stood steadfast in defence of democracy and the Constitution. Their sacrifices ensured that the democratic spirit of India endured even in the face of unprecedented challenges.'

He further called on citizens to 'reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting constitutional values, strengthening democratic institutions, and safeguarding the freedoms that are the foundation of our Republic.'

Bandi Sanjay Kumar: 'Undeclared Dictatorship'

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar also weighed in sharply, alleging that the Indian National Congress (INC) orchestrated a subversion of the Constitution driven by a thirst for power. 'An undeclared dictatorship that trampled upon civil rights and shackled voices of dissent... A ruthless regime that clamped down heavily on press freedom... The Emergency imposed by the Congress — an act that held the soul of Mother India captive and made a mockery of democracy,' he said.

Kumar called for honouring the sacrifices of those who defended democracy and urged renewed commitment to protecting the Constitution.

Forced Sterilisation and Press Censorship: What Telangana BJP Recalled

Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao recalled specific excesses of the Emergency era, posting on X that the forced sterilisation campaign saw government officials assigned quotas. In states like Uttar Pradesh, he noted, schoolteachers were reportedly threatened with salary cuts unless they 'motivated' a certain number of people to undergo sterilisation.

Rao also recalled that popular singer Kishore Kumar, whose songs topped the charts in the 1970s, had all his songs pulled from the airwaves after he refused to perform at Geeton Bhari Shaam — a musical event organised by the Youth Congress to raise funds for Sanjay Gandhi's sterilisation programme.

Judiciary Under Pressure: The Justice Jagmohan Sinha Episode

Rao further recalled that Justice Jagmohan Sinha, who authored the judgment disqualifying then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the Prime Ministership, was allegedly hounded by a Congress MP from Prayagraj and was forced to go into hiding for ten days just to write his verdict. According to Rao, a special CID task force reportedly hunted for Justice Sinha's judgment and threatened his secretary late at night. 'This is how the Congress used to pressurise institutions and today it shamelessly talks about Constitution,' he said.

The BJP's nationwide observance of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas signals a continued effort to frame the Emergency legacy as a defining accountability issue ahead of future electoral cycles.