VP Radhakrishnan begins 2-day Karnataka visit for Kempegowda anniversary, drug conclave
Synopsis
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan heads to Bengaluru for a packed two-day schedule — honouring the 517th birth anniversary of city-founder Kempegowda and anchoring a national drug-free India conclave — just days after publicly marking Samvidhan Hatya Diwas and invoking the Emergency’s legacy on X.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan begins a two-day Karnataka visit from Saturday, 28 June .
He will attend the 517th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda in Bengaluru on Saturday.
On Sunday , he will participate in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave , organised with RGUHS Foundation Day and the International Day Against Drug Abuse .
Radhakrishnan earlier observed Samvidhan Hatya Diwas on 26 June , marking the 51st anniversary of the 1975 Emergency .
The BJP observed the day across Bihar , Haryana , and other states with programmes on the Emergency’s impact on democracy.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is set to embark on a two-day visit to Karnataka beginning Saturday, 28 June, to attend the 517th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda and a national conclave on drug-free India in Bengaluru. The visit, confirmed by an official statement, combines a significant cultural commemoration with a public health initiative.
Key Engagements in Bengaluru
On Saturday, the Vice President will attend the 517th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda — the 16th-century chieftain widely credited as the founder of Bengaluru. The event holds deep cultural and civic significance for Karnataka.
On Sunday, Radhakrishnan will participate in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave, organised jointly as part of the Foundation Day of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The conclave in Bengaluru is part of a broader national effort to address substance abuse across India.
Samvidhan Hatya Diwas Observance
The Karnataka visit comes days after Radhakrishnan observed Samvidhan Hatya Diwas on Thursday, 26 June, paying homage to those who resisted the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975. India marked the 51st anniversary of the Emergency declaration this week.
In a post on X, the Vice President said: “On Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, I pay my humble tributes to all the brave souls who stood firm in defence of democratic values and safeguarded the spirit of our Constitution during one of the darkest chapters in India’s history — The Emergency declared in 1975.”
He further noted: “The Emergency stands as a solemn reminder of a time when constitutional values were severely tested. Civil liberties were suspended, freedom of expression was curtailed, and institutions central to our democratic framework were undermined.”
Radhakrishnan concluded: “With the Constitution as our guiding light, let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to its ideals and continue to build an India rooted in justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.”
BJP's Nationwide Observance
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) observed Samvidhan Hatya Diwas across Bihar, Haryana, and several other states on Thursday, marking the anniversary of the Emergency. The party organised a series of programmes highlighting what it describes as the Emergency’s impact on democratic institutions and civil liberties.
The 1975 Emergency — which lasted from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977, a period of 21 months — saw the suspension of key democratic norms and civil liberties under the Constitution. It is widely regarded as one of the most controversial episodes in independent India’s political history.
What Comes Next
The Vice President’s Bengaluru engagements on 28–29 June are expected to draw participation from state officials, health authorities, and cultural organisations. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave, in particular, aligns with the Centre’s ongoing push to reduce drug dependency across Indian states.
Point of View
While the drug-free conclave reinforces a public-health governance message. Coming immediately after his Samvidhan Hatya Diwas post on X — which drew on Emergency-era imagery — the visit reflects how the Vice President’s office is being used as a soft-power instrument, blending civic symbolism with BJP’s broader political messaging on constitutional values. The Emergency anniversary has become an annual political flashpoint, and the Vice President’s prominent participation this year underscores how central that narrative remains to the ruling establishment.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan visiting Karnataka?
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is visiting Karnataka on 28–29 June to attend the 517th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda in Bengaluru and to participate in the Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave, held alongside the RGUHS Foundation Day and the International Day Against Drug Abuse.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave?
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave is a national-level event focused on combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking in India. The Bengaluru edition is being organised as part of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Foundation Day and coincides with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
What is Samvidhan Hatya Diwas and why did Radhakrishnan observe it?
Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, or Constitution Murder Day, marks the anniversary of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975 — a 21-month period during which civil liberties were suspended and democratic institutions were undermined. Radhakrishnan observed the day on 26 June, paying tribute to those who resisted the Emergency, and shared his remarks in a post on X.
Who was Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda?
Nadaprabhu Sri Kempegowda was a 16th-century chieftain widely credited as the founder of Bengaluru. His birth anniversary is commemorated annually as a significant cultural and civic occasion in Karnataka.
How did the BJP mark the Emergency anniversary this year?
The Bharatiya Janata Party observed Samvidhan Hatya Diwas across Bihar, Haryana, and several other states on 26 June, organising programmes that highlighted the Emergency’s impact on democratic institutions and civil liberties, coinciding with the 51st anniversary of the 1975 Emergency declaration.
