June 25 to be marked as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that June 25, the date when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975, will now be observed as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

In a post on X, Amit Shah stated that this day would honor the significant sacrifices of all those who endured the “inhuman pains of the 1975 Emergency.”

“On June 25, 1975, the then PM Indira Gandhi, in a brazen display of a dictatorial mindset, strangled the soul of our democracy by imposing the Emergency on the nation. Lakhs of people were thrown behind bars for no fault of their own, and the voice of the media was silenced. The Government of India has decided to observe the 25th of June every year as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’,” Shah tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared Amit Shah’s post on X, stating that the Congress initiated a dark chapter in Indian history on June 25, 1975.

The announcement comes as the BJP-led NDA launched a campaign against the Congress on the 49th anniversary of the Emergency’s imposition.

This move is viewed as a response to the opposition’s claims that the BJP is undermining the Constitution.

The Emergency, which lasted from June 1975 to March 1977, witnessed a severe crackdown on opposition leaders and the press.

Reacting strongly to the announcement, the Congress declared that June 4 would be remembered as “Modi Mukti Diwas.” This date marks the day the Lok Sabha election results were announced, where the BJP, despite a reduced mandate, secured a third term with the support of its allies.

In response to Amit Shah, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration of imposing an “undeclared Emergency” in India.