Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Thursday, 25 June asserted that observing the date as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' — Constitution Murder Day — corrects a long-standing historical injustice. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with ensuring that the dark legacy of the Emergency is no longer consigned to the margins of public memory.

Nabin's Post on X and the Core Argument

Taking to social media platform X with the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas, Nabin argued that the observance serves a dual purpose: it keeps alive the memory of what he described as a constitutional assault, and it reinforces the nation's commitment to democratic values. He traced the Emergency's origins to 12 June 1975, when the Allahabad High Court declared the election of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi null and void.

'To save the position of one individual, the freedom of the entire nation was held hostage, and an attempt was made to crush the constitutional values and democratic principles established by Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,' Nabin said.

What Happened During the Emergency

Nabin catalogued the measures imposed during the 1975–77 Emergency period, alleging that Press censorship, forced sterilisation drives, and the suspension of fundamental rights marked the era. He specifically cited the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) as a tool used to suppress civil liberties.

According to Nabin, prominent democratic voices were imprisoned during this period. 'Thousands of Democracy Warriors including Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L.K. Advani were thrown into prison,' he said. He also alleged that constitutional amendments were introduced to concentrate power and curtail judicial authority.

Modi's Role and RSS–ABVP Contributions

Nabin highlighted the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — then a young Pracharak — during the Emergency resistance, claiming he evaded arrest and 'while in disguise carried the message of the movement to many households.' He also credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with running an underground network to defend democracy, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) with mobilising student-led awareness campaigns.

Nabin noted that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh merged itself into the Janata Party during this period, which he described as an act of prioritising national interest over organisational identity.

BJP's Broadside Against Congress

Nabin directed sharp criticism at the Indian National Congress (Congress), accusing the party of attempting to recast itself as a defender of democratic institutions despite its role during the Emergency. 'Those who perpetrated the greatest assault on democracy are now attempting to position themselves as its self-proclaimed greatest defenders,' he alleged.

He also questioned the Congress's credibility on constitutional matters, asking why the party had never offered 'an unconditional apology to the nation for the Emergency.' He further alleged that the Opposition questions the Election Commission of India (ECI), Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and the judiciary whenever electoral or legal outcomes are unfavourable — a charge the Congress has consistently rejected.

Significance of Samvidhan Hatya Diwas

The Centre's decision to formally observe 25 June as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas was welcomed by Nabin as a corrective step. He argued that for decades, the contributions of those who resisted the Emergency were 'relegated to the margins of history.' The formal observance, he said, not only recalls the past but also strengthens the resolve to remain 'ever-vigilant' in safeguarding the Constitution, democracy, and civil liberties.

As political parties mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency's imposition, the debate over its legacy — and who owns the narrative — is set to intensify through the political calendar ahead.