EAM: Leaders carrying Constitution copies, never apologised for Emergency

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed in 1975, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of “murdering the Constitution” but never apologising for imposing Emergency.

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The EAM said the Emergency was not merely a political misstep but a direct assault on democracy, constitutional values and the very conscience of the nation.

“Some people walk around holding a copy of the Constitution, but their hearts say something else. Has the Congress ever apologised for the Emergency?” he asked.

Jaishankar and Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva jointly inaugurated the session organised to mark the 50th anniversary of Emergency.

The event was organised by the Delhi BJP Yuva Morcha at the NDMC Convention Centre. It included a mock parliament session that was aimed at educating young participants about the legacy and impact of the Emergency.

Recalling his own experience as a young man during the Emergency, Jaishankar said, “Freedom should never be taken lightly. That period saw night raids, arrests without explanation, suppression of speech, and a general climate of fear.”

He emphasised that it was the duty of those who witnessed that period to educate future generations about how the Constitution and democracy were subverted.

He pointed out that between 1975 and 1977, five constitutional Amendments and 48 Ordinances were pushed through, three of which had far-reaching implications.

“The 38th Amendment, which shielded Emergency proclamations from judicial scrutiny, the 39th Amendment, which barred courts from hearing election-related petitions against the Prime Minister, the 42nd Amendment, which curtailed Fundamental Rights and reduced the judiciary’s powers and the Constitution was silenced to such an extent that even if your life was in danger, the courts couldn’t help you,” he said.

Jaishankar said the Emergency was imposed not out of national interest, but to protect a single family's hold on power. “Even today, the Congress refuses to express regret for those two years. That silence speaks volumes,” he said.

The minister further pointed out that during the Emergency, a bilateral agreement signed with Sri Lanka led to India losing its traditional fishing rights. This is an issue that continues to affect Indian fishermen, many of whom are still detained by the Sri Lankan authorities, he added.

Taking on the Opposition’s allegations of an “undeclared Emergency” in current times, he hit back, saying, “If there were truly an Emergency today, Parliament wouldn’t function and dissenters wouldn’t be spared, exactly what happened back then. Today, both ruling and opposition MPs are abroad together, presenting a united stance on issues like terrorism. That’s the difference.”

The Delhi BJP chief also emphasised the importance of educating today’s youth about the Emergency. “The Constitution was throttled and freedom of speech crushed for political power. Some were maimed, some killed. The youth must understand this dark chapter,” he said.

Talking about the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, he said India took a strong position. “When one country tried to shield terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said clearly that if terrorism is not mentioned in the statement, India will not sign it.”