Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai vehemently denounced the 1975 Emergency as a ‘black day’ in Indian history, saying that the unutterable suffering inflicted during that period. Speaking at a mock parliament programme organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at Agrasen Dham in Raipur, commemorating 50 years since the imposition of Emergency, Sai asserted that it was a politically motivated decision by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “June 25, 1975, was a black day for our country,” Sai stated, highlighting how political selfishness led to the imprisonment of freedom fighters without cause and the creation of unimaginable hardship. He commended the youth for their exemplary role-playing as MPs in the mock parliament, noting the detailed and meaningful discussions on critical issues.

 

“We all consider the Emergency as Constitution Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day),” he declared, expressing solidarity with the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) prisoners and their families. Sai reiterated his government’s commitment to honoring the sacrifices of these ‘Loktantra Senani’ by reinstating their pension, which was halted by the previous Bhupesh Baghel Government, and by enacting the Loktantra Senani Samman Bill to ensure future continuity. Recalling the personal ordeal of his political guru, Balkrishna Sharma, who was jailed for 19 months during the Emergency, Sai said families were severely impacted by emergency. He further condemned the media censorship, forced sterilizations, and the systemic dismantling of democratic pillars. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Raman Singh echoed the Chief Minister’s sentiments, emphasising the importance of educating youth about the Emergency. Addressing the mock parliament, he stated, “This platform not only expands knowledge, but also makes us realise our responsibility towards our country.”

 

Dr Singh stressed that the Youth Parliament serves not just to recall history but to learn from it, preventing future mistakes that could harm the nation. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, addressing the mock parliament, urged future generations to grasp the horrors of the Emergency. He accused Indira Gandhi of plunging the nation into an emergency solely ‘in greed for power’, violating civil rights and imprisoning over a lakh people. Sao highlighted press censorship, with over two hundred journalists jailed, and the weakening of all four pillars of democracy. He pointed out that while India has seen three emergencies (1962, 1971, 1975), the third, declared on June 25, 1975, was based on a fabricated ‘internal disturbance’ to maintain power. Finance Minister O P Choudhary remarked on the ‘individualistic politics’ of the Congress, noting that only two Prime Ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, awarded themselves the Bharat Ratna. Senior BJP member and Bilha MLA Dharamlal Kaushik, acting as Speaker in the mock parliament, condemned the Emergency as a violation of fundamental rights.