EAM Jaishankar discusses impact of 1975 Emergency
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar called out the 1975-77 Emergency as an attempt to break India's spirit, remembering how students and citizens faced arbitrary arrests and trauma.
"The lesson is that we should never take our freedom for granted," he shared.
Darkest chapter in India's history
The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, giving the Prime Minister sweeping powers.
Civil liberties were suspended, and many—especially from marginalized groups—were jailed.
Press freedom was crushed with censorship and power cuts, while constitutional changes further restricted rights.
'June 25 will be remembered as...'
Jaishankar criticized Congress for putting their interests above the nation and not showing remorse for this period.
He highlighted that June 25 will now be marked as 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' to remember these constitutional violations—and reminded everyone that protests back then showed India's democracy can't easily be silenced.