NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India was placed under Emergency 40 years ago "for the sake of power" and the event which "cannot be forgotten" was the "darkest period" in our history.

"Forty years ago, lakhs of people were imprisoned, the press was censored and the radio only spoke what the government wanted," said Modi.

Indira Gandhi addressing a gathering during the emergency period.
Indira Gandhi addressing a gathering during the emergency period.

Modi was speaking at a function to launch the Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) - all programmes aimed at bettering quality of urban living.

"June 25-26 cannot be forgotten in the history of India. Forty years ago, the nation was placed under Emergency for the sake of power," Modi said.

Earlier, Modi took to Twitter and said the Emergency rule from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, was "one of India's darkest periods".

He posted a number of tweets on the Emergency's 40th anniversary. He urged people to do "everything possible to further strengthen our democratic ideals and ethos".

Modi said the then political leadership "trampled over the democracy" during the Emergency period.

"We mark 40 years of one of India's darkest periods - the Emergency when the then political leadership trampled over our democracy," Modi tweeted.

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Modi said that inspired by the call of social reformer and political leader Jayaprakash Narayan, several men and women across India selflessly immersed themselves in the movement to safeguard the democracy.1


"We are very proud of the lakhs of people who resisted the Emergency and whose efforts ensured that our democratic fabric is preserved," Modi said.

"Personally, the Emergency brings back many memories. As youngsters, we learnt a lot during the anti-Emergency movement."

Modi said: "Emergency was a great opportunity to work with a wide spectrum of leaders and organisations fighting for the same goal - the return of democracy."

  • 1.
    • Emergency - ‘Horrible Days’: Gurudas Dasgupta:  Describing the Emergency imposed in India exactly 40 years ago by then prime minister Indira Gandhi as ‘horrible days’, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said there was a tremendous attack on the democratic system of the country. More..
    • All Should ‘Learn Lesson’ From Aftermath of Emergency: Digvijay Singh: Congress leader Digvijay Singh recalled as to how the party under former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership was rejected by the people post the Emergency. 
    • Congress Slams Modi for Concentrating All Powers in his Hands : Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on Emergency, Congress today cited statements of party leaders  who believes incentralising all powers. 
    • ‘There Was Politics of Vendetta’ Against Indira After Emergency: Congress: Anand Sharma on Thursday attempted to downplay Prime Minister Modi’s remark that Emergency was India’s ‘darkest period’ and said there was a witch hunt and a politics of vendetta against Indira Gandhi after that. 
    • Indira Led to Believe She Was ‘Saviour’ of Country: Govindacharya On Emergency: Describing the Emergency as the worst phase which the nation witnessed, RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya said that people close to Indira Gandhi had filled her mind with an impression that she was the ‘saviour’ of the country.