Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Thursday, 25 June 2026 paid tribute to those who resisted the 1975 Emergency, calling it a dark chapter in India's democratic history and honouring all who fought to restore constitutional values during that period.

Context

Sharma's post, shared under the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas (Constitution Murder Day), recalled that the Emergency was imposed on 25 June 1975 by the then Congress government. In his words, it was a period when 'freedom of expression, civil rights and constitutional values were openly suppressed, and attempts were made to weaken democratic institutions.'

He offered salutations — kotishaḥ naman (salute a crore times) — to all democracy fighters and patriots who struggled for the protection and restoration of democracy despite torture, repression and persecution during that dark period.

Policy Backdrop

On 25 June 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a national Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing internal disturbance. The proclamation suspended civil liberties, imposed press censorship, and led to the detention of thousands of opposition leaders and activists without trial for 21 months.

The Emergency ended in March 1977, after which general elections produced a historic defeat for the Indian National Congress and brought the first non-Congress government to power at the Centre. Opposition stalwart Jayaprakash Narayan had been among the most prominent voices leading the resistance movement against the Emergency from the outset.

The BJP-led central government formally designated 25 June as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas to be observed annually as a day of remembrance for the Emergency's assault on constitutional democracy.

Stakeholders and Impact

The anniversary resonates with civil liberties advocates, former Emergency detainees, and political parties across the spectrum. For the BJP, the date serves as a recurring occasion to highlight what it describes as the Congress party's authoritarian legacy, contrasting it with its own stated commitment to constitutional governance.

For the Congress, the anniversary typically prompts either silence or counter-narratives defending the Emergency as a response to political instability — a debate that has persisted across decades of Indian political discourse.

What's Next

Similar tributes from other BJP chief ministers and senior central government leaders are expected through the day, as the party customarily uses the anniversary for coordinated messaging. Counter-statements from Congress leaders on the same date would continue a long-running political exchange over the memory and meaning of the Emergency period.

The broader pattern of historical memory politics around 25 June suggests the day will remain a fixture in India's political calendar, with each anniversary sharpening the contrast both major parties seek to draw about their respective democratic credentials.