Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday, 25 June marked the 51st anniversary of the Emergency by calling the 1975 imposition a 'dark chapter' in post-Independence India, alleging that the Indian National Congress had 'murdered democracy' by curtailing fundamental rights and jailing opposition leaders.

Bommai's Core Charge

In a post on social media platform X, Bommai stated that the Emergency — imposed under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — was driven by the Congress leadership's desire to protect its own political position rather than any constitutional necessity. 'The Emergency remains one of the darkest chapters in post-Independence India. It was a day when fundamental rights were curtailed, opposition leaders were jailed and democracy was virtually strangled,' he said.

He alleged that the decision was personal and political: 'No one can forget that the Emergency was imposed across the country to protect the position of the then leadership.'

BJP's Political Reading

Bommai drew a direct line between the Emergency era and the Congress party's current standing in national politics. He argued that the Indian public's experience of the 1975–77 Emergency made citizens more vigilant about democratic backsliding, and that this awareness has contributed to the Congress being in opposition at the national level today.

Notably, the BJP has consistently used Emergency anniversaries as occasions to highlight what it describes as the Congress's authoritarian record — a pattern that intensified ahead of recent election cycles.

Praise for PM Modi

Bommai used the occasion to contrast the Emergency period with the current dispensation, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'true protector of the Constitution.' He quoted Modi's own framing upon assuming office: 'As soon as he became Prime Minister, Narendra Modi declared that the Constitution was his guiding document and that serving the people was his foremost duty. He has remained committed to those principles. He is a true protector of the Constitution and a key architect of India's development,' Bommai said.

Call for National Vigilance

Bommai concluded with an appeal for unity, urging citizens to treat the Emergency anniversary as a moment of democratic renewal. 'The anniversary of the Emergency should serve as an occasion for all of us to renew our commitment to protecting democracy. Even today, there is a need for all patriots to unite against divisive forces. It is both necessary and inevitable that we stand together to safeguard the nation and democratic values,' he said.

He appealed to citizens across the country to remember the lessons of the Emergency and strengthen their resolve to preserve democratic institutions and constitutional principles. The remarks come as political parties across the spectrum mark 25 June — the date the Emergency was declared in 1975 — with competing narratives about democracy, constitutional values, and institutional accountability.