CM Bhajan Lal Marks Emergency Anniversary, Hits Congress
Synopsis
On the 51st anniversary of the 1975 Emergency, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma accused Congress of murdering democracy and crushing the Constitution for power, using the hashtag SamvidhanHatyaDiwas to counter the party's current constitutional messaging.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma posted on 25 June 2026 marking the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency .
He accused the Indian National Congress of having 'murdered democracy' and crushed constitutional values to retain power.
The post used the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas (Constitution Murder Day), a recurring BJP framing for the 25 June anniversary.
The 1975 Emergency , declared under Article 352 , lasted 21 months and suspended fundamental rights across India.
The Congress government lost the 1977 general elections held after the Emergency was lifted in March 1977 .
The BJP's annual commemoration directly counters Congress's recent electoral messaging around constitutional protection.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on 25 June 2026 invoked the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency to accuse the Indian National Congress of having crushed democratic values and the Constitution in pursuit of power, even as the party positions itself today as a defender of constitutional principles.
Context
Posting under the hashtag #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas (Constitution Murder Day), Sharma wrote: 'It was on this very day that Congress murdered democracy and imposed Emergency on the country. The Congress that today speaks of saving the Constitution is the same party that crushed the Constitution and democratic values for the sake of power.'
The post was published on the 51st anniversary of the proclamation of national Emergency, which was declared on the night of 25 June 1975 by the government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Policy Backdrop
The 1975 Emergency was declared under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing 'internal disturbance.' It lasted 21 months, from June 1975 to March 1977, during which fundamental rights were suspended, press freedoms curtailed, and elections postponed.
The Congress government lost the subsequent general elections held in 1977, marking the first transfer of power at the Centre since Independence. The episode remains one of the most contested chapters in Indian political history.
The BJP has consistently marked 25 June as an occasion to remind voters of the Emergency, framing it as evidence of the Congress party's willingness to subvert constitutional order when in power. Annual commemorations under tags such as #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas form a recurring part of this political messaging.
Stakeholders and Impact
The post directly targets the Congress party, which has in recent electoral cycles campaigned on themes of constitutional protection and democratic rights. Sharma's statement seeks to undercut that narrative by drawing a direct line between the party's current messaging and its conduct during the 1975–77 period.
For Rajasthan, where the BJP came to power in the 2023 assembly elections, such messaging reinforces the ruling party's ideological positioning ahead of future electoral cycles. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, are expected to respond by contextualising the Emergency or countering with present-day democratic concerns.
What's Next
Responses from senior Congress leaders to the BJP's annual Emergency-anniversary campaign are anticipated in the coming hours and days. Parliamentary references and coordinated social media activity from both sides typically accompany the 25 June date each year. Whether the Congress chooses to engage directly with the #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas framing or pivot the conversation will be a marker of its current political strategy.
Point of View
The party elevates it beyond social media into official political discourse. The timing is deliberate: each anniversary resets the historical frame just as the Congress attempts to build momentum around democratic themes. This cycle of accusation and counter-accusation over constitutional legitimacy is likely to intensify as both parties sharpen their ideological identities ahead of future electoral contests.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SamvidhanHatyaDiwas?
SamvidhanHatyaDiwas , meaning 'Constitution Murder Day,' is a term used by the BJP to mark 25 June , the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency declared by the Congress government, framing it as an attack on India's democratic and constitutional order.
What was the 1975 Emergency in India?
The 1975 Emergency was a 21-month period from June 1975 to March 1977 during which Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government declared a national emergency under Article 352 , suspending fundamental rights, curbing press freedom, and postponing elections.
Why does BJP criticise Congress on June 25 every year?
The BJP uses the 25 June anniversary to remind voters that the Congress party imposed the 1975 Emergency , arguing this contradicts the party's current claims of being a defender of the Constitution and democratic values.
What did Bhajan Lal Sharma say about the Emergency?
Bhajan Lal Sharma stated that Congress 'murdered democracy and imposed Emergency on the country' and that the same party which now claims to protect the Constitution had 'crushed the Constitution and democratic values for the sake of power.'
What happened after the 1975 Emergency ended?
After the Emergency was lifted in March 1977 , fresh general elections were held and the Congress party lost power for the first time since Independence, with the Janata Party forming the government.
